[Verse 1]
One may have little, yet give with a heart so true,
A single grain of kindness can shine the whole life through.
A servant on the path, who never turned away,
Kept the precepts, trained the mind, from day to day.
[Verse 2]
Some gave their food, some guarded every vow,
Some trained the mind to see the truth somehow.
The eightfold Uposatha became their guiding light,
A steady heart of goodness through the darkness of the night.
[Pre-Chorus]
No matter who we are, no matter what we own,
The value of our goodness lives within the heart alone.
A drop becomes a river when compassion starts to flow,
And every act of kindness helps the inner light to grow.
[Chorus]
Cittalatā, let the light of goodness shine,
Through generosity and virtue, let the heart become divine.
Give with love, walk gently, keep the spirit bright,
Train the mind in wisdom, let the Dharma be your light.
Cittalatā, let the ancient message sing,
A faithful heart can turn a simple act into a precious thing.
Though the world may change and time may pass away,
Let kindness be our journey, let goodness guide our way.
[Verse 3]
The poor could still give with devotion in their heart,
The faithful kept their precepts and made a wholesome start.
They offered food and clothing, lamps and shelter too,
And every gift became a path of kindness shining through.
[Bridge]
Do not wait for wealth before you choose to give,
Do not wait for tomorrow when goodness can be lived.
One moment of compassion, one promise to be true,
Can brighten someone’s darkness—and brighten your heart too.
[Final Chorus]
Cittalatā, let the light of goodness shine,
Through generosity and virtue, let the heart become divine.
Keep the mind awakened, walk the path with care,
Plant the seeds of kindness, let compassion fill the air.
[Outro]
The light of goodness never fades away,
When kindness lives within the heart each day.
Cittalatā...
Let the light remain.
Cittalatā Vagga Highlights the Power of Generosity, Morality, Faith, and Mental Cultivation
News Article
The Cittalatā Vagga, found in the Vimanavatthu of the Khuddaka Nikāya, Tipitaka Volume 26, presents eleven stories of celestial mansions and the wholesome actions said to have brought about their extraordinary results.
The stories are generally presented through questions asked by Venerable Mahā Moggallāna, who asks celestial beings about the causes of their radiant appearance, happiness, and heavenly prosperity. The answers point back to acts of generosity, moral discipline, observance of the precepts, faith, meditation, and the cultivation of the mind during their previous human lives.
In the Dāsī Vimāna, a former female servant explains that she had practiced morality and meditation for sixteen years. She cultivated the thirty-seven factors associated with awakening and maintained firm determination in her practice. The story therefore emphasizes perseverance, discipline, and mental cultivation rather than social status.
The Lakhumā Vimāna describes a woman who offered cooked rice, food, pickles, and drinks to Buddhist disciples. She also observed the eight precepts on designated observance days and maintained the five precepts. The story highlights generosity, moral restraint, and sincere faith.
The Ācāmadāyikā Vimāna tells of a poor and orphaned woman who offered a simple portion of food to Venerable Mahākassapa. The story places emphasis on the purity of giving even when the donor possesses very little material wealth.
The Caṇḍālī Vimāna concerns a woman of an outcast social background who was encouraged to develop faith in the Buddha. The account emphasizes the importance of the mind, faith, and spiritual opportunity rather than social birth.
The Bhadditthikā Vimāna presents an exemplary laywoman who was devoted to faith, morality, generosity, and the observance of the eight precepts. She gave clothing, food, lodging, lamps, and other necessities to spiritually accomplished practitioners.
The Soṇadinnā Vimāna similarly emphasizes generosity, the observance of the five and eight precepts, and understanding of the Noble Truths. The story therefore connects material generosity with moral and intellectual cultivation.
The Uposatha Vimāna focuses particularly on observance of the Uposatha. The celestial woman is encouraged by Mahā Moggallāna and is described as having a future spiritual attainment associated with stream-entry.
The Suniddhā Vimāna and Sudinnā Vimāna describe laywomen known for faith and morality. Their wholesome conduct is presented as the cause of their radiant appearance and heavenly prosperity.
The final two stories, the Bhikkhādāyikā Vimāna I and II, emphasize offerings of alms to the Buddha with sincere faith. Their accounts reinforce the recurring theme that generosity performed with a wholesome mind is regarded as a significant source of merit.
Taken together, the eleven stories of the Cittalatā Vagga emphasize several interconnected Buddhist principles: generosity, ethical conduct, faith, Uposatha observance, perseverance, meditation, and wisdom.
The practical message is that wholesome living does not necessarily begin with great wealth. It can begin with a sincere intention, a willingness to share, commitment to moral conduct, cultivation of the mind, and mindfulness in everyday life.
Source: Tipitaka Volume 26, Sutta Piṭaka Volume 18, Khuddaka Nikāya, Vimanavatthu, Cittalatā Vagga, as presented by 84000.org.
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