WHO ARE OUR ROLE MODELS? - Nakula's Father and Mother, lay role models for happy marriage in Dhamma

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Role models play an important part in all of our lives, whether we seek them out or not. And whether we walk the Buddhist Path or not, they can have the power to shape the direction we take and the ability to influence the decisions that follow on from there.   For Buddhist practitioners,  the Buddha is our most eminent role model, teacher and the Perfectly Enlightened One. And there are also many noble and great disciples of the Buddha.   Today we will focus on lay disciples of the Buddha, and two in particular, Nakula's Father and Mother, who were declared foremost among those of the Buddha's lay disciples who are trustworthy (vissāsikānaṃ) - Sattama Vagga (AN 1.257), (AN 1.266). After receiving a teaching from the Buddha, they both realised stream entry.   The story of Nakula's parents is very inspirational for their upright qualities, their good example shows us how to develop more ease around our relationships with our partners (and this can be extended to our other relationships), and understanding the support for developing Path and Practice together.   Some of the suttas mentioned in this talk include:  – Sattama Vagga (AN 1.257), (AN1.266)  – Paṭhamasamajīvī Sutta (AN 4.55)  – Nakulapitu Sutta (SN 35.131)  – Paṭiccasamuppāda Sutta (SN 12.1)  – Samādhi bhāvanā Sutta (SN 22.5)  – Nakulapitu Sutta (SN 22.1)  – Sīlavanta Sutta (22.122) – Nakulapitu Sutta (AN 6.16)  – Nakulamātā Sutta (AN 8.48)   In learning about such noble beings, we can delight in their lives and accomplishments;  recognise the importance of seeing them as worthy role models; and use it as inspiration towards progress on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path.   Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.   The VIDEO with slides has been uploaded to the Sutta Meditation Series podcast channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WOgI1rBj1E AND on Spotify as a video podcast Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai