Eight Causes and Conditions for the Destruction of Families

I remember ninety-one eons back, Headman, but I do not recall any family that has ever been destroyed merely by offering cooked almsfood. Rather, whatever families there are that are rich, with much wealth and property, with abundant gold and silver, with abundant possessions and means of subsistence, with abundant wealth and grain, they have all become so from giving, from truthfulness, and from mental discipline.

There are, Headman, eight causes and conditions for the destruction of families.

(1) Families come to destruction on account of the King, or

(2) on account of thieves, or

(3) on account of fire, or

(4) on account of water; or

(5) they do not find what they have put away; or

(6) mismanaged undertakings fail; or

(7) there arises within a family a spendthrift who squanders, dissolves, and wastes away its wealth; and

(8) impermanence is the eighth.

These are the eight causes and conditions for the destruction of families. But while these eight causes and conditions for the destruction of families exist, if anyone speaks thus of me: The Perfectly Enlightened One is practicing for the elimination of families, for the misfortune of families, for the destruction of families, if he does not abandon that assertion and that state of mind, and if he does not let go of that view, then according to his own consequences he will be, as it were, dropped off in hell.

(Reference: SN 42.9)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the eight causes and conditions for the destruction of families.

Now that you have completed reading (Volume 13) of this book series and may decide to read this book multiple times, I would like to take a moment to personally “thank you” for your determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment.

The time, effort, energy, and resources that you devote to this path are serving to help you and countless other beings. As you choose to learn and practice these Teachings, you will significantly reduce then eliminate any harm that you are putting into the world through your unknowing of true reality. The unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does not understand.

You are now applying time, effort, energy, and resources to improving the condition of the mind, the condition of your life, and, thus, the condition of the world through investigating The Teachings to acquire wisdom. The world becomes a better place when we each individually choose to improve our own life practice taking responsibility for our own intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood while improving our wisdom and mental discipline.

I admire individuals who choose to walk towards harmlessness. I admire individuals who choose to realize there is a better way of life and create that better way of life for themselves through seeking guidance. And, I admire individuals who do not shrink back from the struggle to move the mind towards Enlightenment when the natural tendency might be to remain complacent.

Why have I chosen to share these Teachings with you? 

“That it may be for the benefit and peacefulness of the multitude (many people), out of compassion for the world, for the benefit and peacefulness of heavenly beings and humans”. (Gotama Buddha)

“Because if they understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and peacefulness for a long time”. (Gotama Buddha)

May you discover the freedom associated with a mind that is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy permanently - the Enlightened mind.

As you need help to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings, you are welcome to seek guidance which is available openly and freely to “all beings”.