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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

7: The Book of the Sevens

VII. The Great Chapter — AN 7.70: Honor

1Then as Venerable Sāriputta was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: “What should a mendicant honor and respect and rely on, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful?”

Then he thought: “A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the Teacher … the teaching … the Saṅgha … the training … immersion … diligence … A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on hospitality, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful.”


2Then he thought: “These qualities are pure and bright in me. Why don’t I go and tell them to the Buddha? Then these qualities will not only be purified in me, but will be better known as purified. Suppose a man were to acquire a gold ornament, pure and bright. They’d think, ‘My gold ornament is pure and bright. Why don’t I take it to show the smiths? Then it will not only be purified, but will be better known as purified.’ In the same way, these qualities are pure and bright in me. Why don’t I go and tell them to the Buddha? Then these qualities will not only be purified in me, but will be better known as purified.”


3-4Then in the late afternoon, Sāriputta came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha of his thoughts while on retreat.


5“Good, good, Sāriputta! A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the Teacher, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful. A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the teaching … the Saṅgha … the training … immersion … diligence … A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on hospitality, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful.”

6When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha:

“Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.

It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher disrespects the teaching.


7It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher and the teaching to respect the Saṅgha. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher and the teaching disrespects the Saṅgha.

8It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, and the Saṅgha to respect the training. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, and the Saṅgha disrespects the training.

9It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and the training to respect immersion. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and the training disrespects immersion.

10It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion to respect diligence. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion disrespects diligence.

11It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence to respect hospitality. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence disrespects hospitality.

12It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to disrespect the teaching. …


13A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

14It’s quite possible for a mendicant who respects the Teacher to respect teaching. …

15A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

16That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”


17“Good, good, Sāriputta! It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this.

It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. …

18A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence disrespects hospitality.

19It’s quite impossible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to disrespect the teaching. …


20A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

21It’s quite possible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. …

22A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

23This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.”

1Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:  "Kiṁ nu kho, bhikkhu, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā"ti?

Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi:  "satthāraṁ kho, bhikkhu, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Dhammaṁ kho, bhikkhu … pe … saṅghaṁ kho, bhikkhu … pe … sikkhaṁ kho, bhikkhu … pe … samādhiṁ kho, bhikkhu … pe … appamādaṁ kho, bhikkhu … pe … paṭisanthāraṁ kho, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā"ti.


2Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi:  "ime kho me dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā ca. Seyyathāpi nāma puriso suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ adhigaccheyya parisuddhaṁ pariyodātaṁ. Tassa evamassa:  ‘Ayaṁ kho me suvaṇṇanikkho parisuddho pariyodāto, yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ gantvā kammārānaṁ dasseyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ayaṁ suvaṇṇanikkho sakammāragato parisuddho ceva bhavissati parisuddhasaṅkhātataro ca. Evamevaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā cā’"ti.


3Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

4"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:  ‘kiṁ nu kho bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā’ti? Atha kho tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:  ‘satthāraṁ kho bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Dhammaṁ kho bhikkhu … pe … paṭisanthāraṁ kho bhikkhu sakkatvā … pe … kusalaṁ bhāveyyā’ti. Atha kho tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:  ‘ime kho me dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā ca. Seyyathāpi nāma puriso suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ adhigaccheyya parisuddhaṁ pariyodātaṁ. Tassa evamassa – ayaṁ kho me suvaṇṇanikkho parisuddho pariyodāto, yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ gantvā kammārānaṁ dasseyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ayaṁ suvaṇṇanikkho sakammāragato parisuddho ceva bhavissati parisuddhasaṅkhātataro ca. Evamevaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā cā’"ti.


5"Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Satthāraṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Dhammaṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Saṅghaṁ kho … pe … sikkhaṁ kho … samādhiṁ kho … appamādaṁ kho … paṭisanthāraṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā"ti.

6Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

"imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhammepi so agāravo. (1–2.)


7So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghepi so agāravo. (3)

8So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāyapi so agāravo. (4)

9So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismimpi so agāravo. (5)

10So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamādepi so agāravo. (6)

11So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthāre sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo … pe … appamāde agāravo paṭisanthārepi so agāravo. (7)

12So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo … pe … . (1–6.)


13So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthāre agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo. (7)

14So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo … pe … . (1–6.)

15So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme sagāravo saṅghe sagāravo sikkhāya sagāravo samādhismiṁ sagāravo appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravoti. (7)

16Imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī"ti.


17"Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, imassa mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati … pe … yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamādepi so agāravo. (1–6.)

18So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthāre sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthārepi so agāravo. (7)

19So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati … pe … yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo … pe … . (1–6.)


20So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthāre agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo. (7)

21So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo … pe … . (1–6.)

22So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo … pe … appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravoti. (7)

23Imassa kho, sāriputta, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.