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- Samyutta Nikaya VI.2
- Garava Sutta
- Reverence
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion, when the Blessed One was newly Self-awakened, he was
staying at Uruvela on the bank of the Nerañjara
River, at the foot of the Goatherd's Banyan Tree. Then, while he was alone and in
seclusion, this line of thinking arose in his awareness: "One suffers if dwelling
without reverence or deference. Now on what priest or contemplative can I dwell in
dependence, honoring and respecting him?"
Then the thought occurred to him: "It would be for the sake of perfecting an
unperfected aggregate of virtue that I would dwell in dependence on another priest or
contemplative, honoring and respecting him. However, in this world with its devas, Mara, and Brahma, in this generation with its priests
and contemplatives, its royalty and common-folk, I do not see another priest or
contemplative more consummate in virtue than I, on whom I could dwell in dependence,
honoring and respecting him.
"It would be for the sake of perfecting an unperfected aggregate of concentration
that I would dwell in dependence on another priest or contemplative, honoring and
respecting him. However, in this world with its devas, Mara, and Brahma, in this
generation with its priests and contemplatives, its royalty and common-folk, I do not see
another priest or contemplative more consummate in concentration than I, on whom I could
dwell in dependence, honoring and respecting him.
"It would be for the sake of perfecting an unperfected aggregate of discernment
that I would dwell in dependence on another priest or contemplative, honoring and
respecting him. However, in this world with its devas, Mara, and Brahma, in this
generation with its priests and contemplatives, its royalty and common-folk, I do not see
another priest or contemplative more consummate in discernment than I, on whom I could
dwell in dependence, honoring and respecting him.
"It would be for the sake of perfecting an unperfected aggregate of release that I
would dwell in dependence on another priest or contemplative, honoring and respecting him.
However, in this world with its devas, Mara, and Brahma, in this generation with its
priests and contemplatives, its royalty and common-folk, I do not see another priest or
contemplative more consummate in release than I, on whom I could dwell in dependence,
honoring and respecting him.
"It would be for the sake of perfecting an unperfected aggregate of knowledge and
vision of release that I would dwell in dependence on another priest or contemplative,
honoring and respecting him. However, in this world with its devas, Mara, and Brahma, in
this generation with its priests and contemplatives, its royalty and common-folk, I do not
see another priest or contemplative more consummate in knowledge and vision of release
than I, on whom I could dwell in dependence, honoring and respecting him.
"What if I were to dwell in dependence on this very Dhamma to which I have fully
awakened, honoring and respecting it?"
Then, having known with his own awareness the line of thinking in the Blessed One's
awareness -- just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or
flex his extended arm -- Brahma Sahampati disappeared from the
Brahma-world and reappeared in front of the Blessed One. Arranging his upper robe over one
shoulder, he saluted the Blessed One with his hands before his heart and said to him:
"So it is, Blessed One! So it is, One-Well-Gone! Those who were Arahants, Rightly
Self-awakened Ones in the past -- they, too, dwelled in dependence on the very Dhamma
itself, honoring and respecting it. Those who will be Arahants, Rightly Self-awakened Ones
in the future -- they, too, will dwell in dependence on the very Dhamma itself, honoring
and respecting it. And let the Blessed One, who is at present the Arahant, the Rightly
Self-awakened One, dwell in dependence on the very Dhamma itself, honoring and respecting
it."
That is what Brahma Sahampati said. Having said that, he further said this:
Past Buddhas,
future Buddhas,
& he who is the Buddha now,
removing the sorrow of many --
all have dwelt,
will dwell, he dwells,
revering the true Dhamma.
This, for Buddhas, is a natural law.
Therefore one who desires his own good,
aspiring for greatness,
should respect the true Dhamma,
recollecting the Buddhas' Teaching.