206: Benefits of Being a Monk (Sāmaññaphala Sutta)

Over 2,600 years ago, on a full moon night at Jīvaka’s mango grove near Rājagaha, King Ajātasattu—haunted by guilt for killing his father—approached the Buddha with a simple but profound question: What are the benefits, in this life, of being a monk? The Buddha’s response, later known as the Sāmaññaphala Sutta, unfolded into one of the most comprehensive teachings on the spiritual path. In this episode, we explore how the Buddha skillfully led the king from worldly examples of freedom and sim...