English
4. Chapter on Devas 1. Discourse on Respect for Diligence Then a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with resplendent beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to the Blessed One: "These seven qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the Teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Saṅgha, respect for the training, respect for concentration, respect for diligence, respect for hospitality. These seven qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline." That deity said this. The Teacher approved. Then that deity, thinking "My Teacher approves," paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and vanished right there. Then, when that night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks, this night, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with resplendent beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta Grove, approached me. Having approached and paid homage to me, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, monks, that deity said this to me: 'These seven qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the Teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Saṅgha, respect for the training, respect for concentration, respect for diligence, respect for hospitality. These seven qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline.' That deity said this, monks. Having said this, she paid homage to me, circumambulated me clockwise, and vanished right there." Respectful of the Teacher, respectful of the Dhamma, and intensely respectful of the Saṅgha; Respectful of concentration, ardent, intensely respectful of the training. A monk respectful of diligence, respectful of hospitality; Is incapable of decline, he is indeed near to Nibbāna. First. This night, monks, a certain deity, with resplendent beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta Grove, came to where I was; having come, she bowed to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, monks, that deity said to me: ‘These seven things, venerable sir, lead to a monk’s non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the Teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Sangha, respect for the training, respect for concentration, respect for shame, respect for dread of wrongdoing. These seven things, venerable sir, lead to a monk’s non-decline.’ This is what that deity said, monks. Having said this, she bowed to me, circumambulated me clockwise, and vanished right there. Respectful of the Teacher, respectful of the Dhamma, And intensely respectful of the Sangha; Respectful of concentration, ardent, Intensely respectful of the training. Endowed with shame and dread of wrongdoing, Respectful and reverent; Incapable of decline, He is indeed near Nibbāna. This night, monks, a certain deity… (as before) …said to me: ‘These seven things, venerable sir, lead to a monk’s non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the Teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Sangha, respect for the training, respect for concentration, amenability, good friendship. These seven things, venerable sir, lead to a monk’s non-decline.’ This is what that deity said, monks. Having said this, she bowed to me, circumambulated me clockwise, and vanished right there. Respectful of the Teacher, respectful of the Dhamma, And intensely respectful of the Sangha; Respectful of concentration, ardent, Intensely respectful of the training. A good friend, amenable, Respectful and reverent; Incapable of decline, He is indeed near Nibbāna. This night, monks, a certain deity, with resplendent beauty… (as before) …‘These seven things, venerable sir, lead to a monk’s lead to non-decline. Which seven? Reverence for the Teacher, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Saṅgha, reverence for the training, reverence for concentration, easy to admonish, good friendship. These seven qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline. This, monks, that deity said. Having said this, having saluted me, having circumambulated me clockwise, she vanished right there. When this was said, Venerable Sāriputta spoke to the Blessed One thus: Venerable sir, I understand the meaning of this brief statement by the Blessed One in this detailed way. Here, venerable sir, a monk himself is reverent towards the Teacher, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Teacher to be reverent towards the Teacher. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Teacher, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the Dhamma, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Dhamma. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Dhamma to be reverent towards the Dhamma. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Dhamma, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the Saṅgha, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Saṅgha. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Saṅgha to be reverent towards the Saṅgha. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Saṅgha, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the training, and speaks in praise of reverence for the training. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the training to be reverent towards the training. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the training, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards concentration, and speaks in praise of reverence for concentration. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards concentration to be reverent towards concentration. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards concentration, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is easy to admonish, and speaks in praise of being easy to admonish. And he encourages other monks who are not easy to admonish to be easy to admonish. And he speaks praise of other monks who are easy to admonish, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is a good friend, and speaks in praise of good friendship. And he encourages other monks who are not good friends to be good friends. And he speaks praise of other monks who are good friends, truly, factually, at the right time. Venerable sir, I understand the meaning of this brief statement by the Blessed One in this detailed way. Good, good, Sāriputta! It is good, Sāriputta, that you understand the meaning of this brief statement by me in this detailed way. Here, Sāriputta, a monk himself is reverent towards the Teacher, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Teacher to be reverent towards the Teacher. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Teacher, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the Dhamma, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Dhamma. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Dhamma to be reverent towards the Dhamma. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Dhamma, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the Saṅgha, and speaks in praise of reverence for the Saṅgha. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the Saṅgha to be reverent towards the Saṅgha. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the Saṅgha, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards the training, and speaks in praise of reverence for the training. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards the training to be reverent towards the training. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards the training, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is reverent towards concentration, and speaks in praise of reverence for concentration. And he encourages other monks who are not reverent towards concentration to be reverent towards concentration. And he speaks praise of other monks who are reverent towards concentration, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is easy to admonish, and speaks in praise of being easy to admonish. And he encourages other monks who are not easy to admonish to be easy to admonish. And he speaks praise of other monks who are easy to admonish, truly, factually, at the right time. He himself is a good friend, and speaks in praise of good friendship. And he encourages other monks who are not good friends to be good friends. And other monks who are not good friends, he encourages them to be good friends. And other monks who are good friends, he speaks their praise, what is true, what is factual, at the right time. "Of this, Sāriputta, which I have spoken in brief, the meaning should be understood thus in detail." The Fourth. 5. The First Discourse on a Friend "Monks, a friend endowed with seven qualities should be associated with. Which seven? He gives what is hard to give, he does what is hard to do, he endures what is hard to endure, he reveals his secrets, he conceals your secrets, he does not abandon in times of misfortune, he does not despise when one is ruined. Monks, a friend endowed with these seven qualities should be associated with." A friend gives what is hard to give, and also does what is hard to do; And also his harsh words, he endures what is hard to endure. He reveals his secrets, he conceals your secrets; He does not abandon in times of misfortune, he does not despise when one is ruined. In whom these qualities, are found in a person here; Such a friend, by one who desires a friend, should be associated with. The Fifth. 6. The Second Discourse on a Friend "Monks, a monk who is a friend, endowed with seven qualities,