Continuing with our exploration and counting our blessings.

Patirūpa-desa vāso ca
Pubbe ca katapuññatā
Atta sammā panidhi ca
Etam mangala muttamam

To live in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past,
and to have set oneself on the right course (towards Nirvana); this is Blessing Supreme.

At first glance, this verse may seem ancient or distant. But if we pause and look around our modern world, it becomes a powerful reminder: We are already standing on a mountain of conditions that allow goodness to grow.

Let’s unpack this verse through a contemporary lens and count our blessings once more.

1. Living in a Suitable Locality: The Privilege We Forget We Have

We often take our surroundings for granted. Yet where we live shapes our safety, opportunities, and even our inner peace. A “suitable locality” in today’s world can mean:

• A stable and peaceful country

No civil war, no famine, no daily violence. Many people wake each morning uncertain whether they can return home safely. If we don’t have that fear, that itself is a blessing.

• Social and political conditions that support freedom

Freedom to walk safely, day and night. (Just a few years back, everyone had to stay home to prevent Covid)
Freedom to listen and speak openly.
Freedom to dream beyond survival mode.

These are not small things — they are the foundation upon which spiritual practice becomes possible.

• Cultural acceptance and diversity

Living in a society that does not punish you for being different, thinking differently, or seeking truth in a different way is a tremendous luxury. Many societies still restrict these freedoms.

• The ability to practice Buddhism without persecution

You can meditate publicly, chant openly, visit a temple freely, or read suttas without fear.
Historically, and even today in some places, this is a privilege that cannot be taken for granted.

• Access to the essentials: clean water, electricity, healthcare

These modern conveniences give us the space and stability to reflect, grow, and cultivate wholesome qualities.
Without them, spiritual life becomes a struggle for survival.

When we think of “suitable locality,” it is not only geography — it is the collective conditions that grant us mental space to breathe, learn, and practice the Dhamma. If we recollect in this manner, then we have much to be thankful for.

2. Meritorious Actions in the Past: The Invisible Support Behind Us

The Buddha reminds us that our present blessings did not appear out of thin air.
They arise from seeds planted long ago — sometimes in this life, sometimes beyond our memory. These “meritorious actions” are not supernatural. They can simply mean:

• Parents or ancestors who worked hard so we could have education

Their sacrifices created opportunities we now enjoy.

• Teachers who guided us, friends who supported us

Our willingness to learn from good teachers and surround ourselves with people who uplift us is also part of setting the right course. In my own life, I’ve been fortunate to have friends who introduced me to Buddhist teachers and communities — connections that quietly shaped my understanding and guided me toward a more wholesome path.

• Our own past choices that led to stability

Perhaps at different points in our lives, we chose honesty over convenience, kindness over anger, perseverance over despair, or hard work over laziness. These seemingly small decisions quietly shaped the life we have today. When we pause to recall them, a natural sense of relief and gratitude arises. We feel glad — even proud — that we once chose the better path. In recognising this, we realise just how blessed we truly are.

• The good fortune of encountering the Dhamma at all

In a world overflowing with distractions, misinformation, and consumerism, encountering genuine spiritual teachings is incredibly rare.

When we acknowledge the blessings shaped by the past, gratitude naturally arises — and gratitude itself becomes a merit that shapes our future.

3. Setting Oneself on the Right Course: The Blessing of Direction

This line carries a deeply empowering message:
Blessing isn’t only about where we are — it’s about the direction we choose to take.

It reminds us that today’s choices become tomorrow’s reality. Every moment we choose integrity over convenience, kindness over anger, or wisdom over impulse, we quietly shape our future happiness. Simply having this awareness is already a blessing.

The capacity to do what is right and to turn away from what is harmful is itself a precious gift — and this ability is naturally supported by the first two blessings: living in the right conditions and having benefitted from wholesome causes in the past.

Counting Our Blessings Again

When we bring this verse into our modern lives, it becomes a gentle reminder that:

✔ We are fortunate to live in a place where peace is possible.
✔ We are supported by countless good deeds of the past.
✔ We are free to walk a meaningful path today.

These blessings are easy to overlook, especially when life feels ordinary or stressful. But the Buddha encourages us to recognise them — because gratitude turns everyday life into sacred ground.

A Closing Reflection

Take a moment to pause.

Look at your home, your safety, your freedoms, your teachers, your past efforts, and your current direction.

Not everything is perfect — it never will be — but the conditions you already have are enough for awakening, enough for joy, enough for the cultivation of a wise and compassionate life.

And that, truly, is the highest blessing.

May all be well and happy.