To Bless a Pandemic World (Ratana Sutra)

Ven. Akaliko, Ven. Anandajoti (ancient-buddhist-texts.net), Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Poverty Death says to Covid-19 Death, "You ain't seen nothing yet." (creators.com)

Ratana Sutta: "Precious Jewel Sutra"

The backstory of Bahiya of the Barkcloth

(May 18, 2020) The "Precious Jewel Sutra" was originally uttered or chanted by the Buddha and Ven. Ananda as a protection (paritta) for a city ravaged by a pandemic and haunted by the unclean spirits of those who had died as a result. Here two Western Theravada monks in the Thai Forest Tradition, Ven. Sujato and Ven. Akaliko, chant the abridged version for 2020 Vesak celebrations organized by the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, an online event held during the pandemic.

CHANT: Ratana Sutta (Sn2.1)

Whatever riches there are -- here, elsewhere, or in the celestial realm -- that excellent treasure
Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ -- idha vā huraṁ vā saggesu vā -- yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ

cannot rival the Awakened One. This excellent treasure in [the world] is the Buddha:
na no samaṁ atthi Tathāgatena, idam-pi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:

[Pollutants’] end, dispassion, deathlessness, excellence: which the concentrated Scythian sage attained,
Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ, yad-ajjhagā Sakyamunī samāhito,

By virtue of this truth may there be safety!
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!

There is nothing that is equal to that state. This excellent treasure in [the world] is the Dharma:
Na tena dhammena samatthi kiñci, idam-pi Dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:

By virtue of this truth may there be safety!
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!

That which the Buddha, the Great One, praised as pure, the concentration said to have immediate result,
Yam-Buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ, samādhim-ānantarikañ-ñam-āhu,

no equal to that concentration is to be found. This excellent treasure is in the Dharma:
samādhinā tena samo na vijjati, idam-pi Dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:

By virtue of this truth may there be safety!
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!

Those eight individuals praised by the noble ones, there are these four pairs (of individuals),
Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā, cattāri etāni yugāni honti,

those disciples of the Happy One are worthy of gifts, for things given to them have great fruit,
te dakkhiṇeyyā Sugatassa sāvakā, etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,

this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha:
idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:

By virtue of this truth may there be safety!
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!

Those who have firm and devoted minds, without sense desire in Gotama’s dispensation,
te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha, laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā,

those who have attained, and entered the deathless state, are enjoying liberation, gained for free,
Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena, nikkāmino Gotamasāsanamhi,

this excellent treasure in [the world] is the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!...
idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu!

The old is destroyed, and nothing new is produced, (their) minds are dispassionate about any future rebirth,
Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ navaṁ natthi sambhavaṁ, virattacittā āyatike bhavasmiṁ,

they have neutralized the seeds, and are dispassionate about growth, the wise are still, just as this lamp (is still),
te khīṇabījā avirūḷhicchandā, nibbanti dhīrā yathāyam-padīpo,

this excellent treasure in[the world] is the Saṅgha:
idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:

By virtue of this truth may there be safety!
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!