ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Upajjhatthana Sutta

The Upajjhatthana Sutta is a teaching or sermon that was given by the Buddha to his followers. It is a set of verses that are meant to be memorized and recited by Buddhist monks and laypeople.

Imagine you are playing a game with your friends, and you want to remember the rules of the game. So, you create a set of simple sentences that you can repeat to yourself anytime you forget the rules or are unsure about them. That is what the Upajjhatthana Sutta is like for Buddhists.

The Upajjhatthana Sutta consists of four simple sentences that remind Buddhists about the four core principles of their faith: (1) Impermanence, (2) Suffering, (3) Non-self, and (4) Karma. These are big words, so let's break them down.

1. Impermanence - This is a fancy word that means everything in life changes all the time. Think about how your toys, clothes, and even your body change as you grow.

2. Suffering - This means that life is not always perfect, and we experience different types of pain and discomfort. It could be physical pain or emotional pain, like feeling sad or upset.

3. Non-self - This means that we are not just our body or mind. There is something more to us that goes beyond what we can see or touch.

4. Karma - This is a word that means our actions have consequences. Like how if you share your toys or are kind to your friends, they will be happy and will want to be your friend.

So, when Buddhists recite the Upajjhatthana Sutta, they remind themselves that everything in life is changing, that there is suffering, that they are more than just their body or mind, and that their actions have consequences.

Overall, the Upajjhatthana Sutta is like a little reminder for Buddhists to live their lives with kindness, awareness, and compassion towards themselves and others.