The shorter formula of the recollection of the Three Jewels?

Q & A
1

Hi everyone.

I noticed that the following passages seem to be the shortened form of the recollection of the Three Jewels:

‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno sāvakasaṅgho’ti. (DN 28)
如來、至真、等正覺，如來法善可 分別，如來眾苦滅成就 (DA 18)
如來、無所著、等正覺，世尊所說法善，如來弟子聖眾善趣。(MA 146)

The question is, are they? Or, are they just simple statements?

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2

My guess would be that they’re simple statements.

Recollection of the three jewels appears to have a very specific phrasing throughout the suttas.

From AN 6.10 (eng/pli):

“itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṃ buddho bhagavā’ti.”

“svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.”

“suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṃ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassā’ti.”

Piya Tan provides an analysis of these recollections in 15.7, 15.9, and 15.10 of his Sutta Discovery series.

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