3.6.3

Lesson 3.6.3 Parābhavasuttaṃ – The Causes of Downfall

The Parābhavasutta serves as a warning, outlining twelve vices that lead to suffering and downfall (parābhava) for a human being. This sutta, which describes timeless human flaws, is considered the "twin" sutta of the Maṅgalasutta, which lists wholesome actions and blessings, while the Parābhavasutta highlights activities that should be avoided and that lead to one’s downfall. Both suttas begin with an account of a devatā visiting the Buddha when ‘the night was far advanced’ (abhikkantāya rattiyā)—the time when the beings of the deva and brahma worlds would visit the Buddha. According to the later commentaries, the Buddha followed a nightly routine consisting of three 'watches'. During the ‘first watch’ (rattiyā paṭhame yāme) from 6 pm–10 pm he taught humans. Then from from 10 pm–2 am during the ‘second watch’ (rattiyā majjhime yāme), he answered profound questions from devas and brahmas. The ‘last watch’ (rattiyā pacchime yāme) from 2 am–6 am was dedicated to surveying the world and meditating. This indicates that the devatā must have asked these questions, as related in the two suttas, on both nights between 10 pm and 2 am.