AN 7 The Book of the Sevens – Sattakanipāta > AN 7.32 Respect for Diligence

Numbered Discourses 7.32 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.32

4. Deities – 4. Devatāvagga

AN 7.32 Respect for Diligence – Appamādagāravasutta

1.1

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Sir, these seven things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

“Sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

2.2

What seven?

Katame satta?

2.3

Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for samādhi, for diligence, and for hospitality.

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā.

2.4

These seven things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.”

Ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

2.5

That’s what that deity said,

Idamavoca sā devatā.

2.6

and the teacher approved.

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

2.7

Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

3.1

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the bhikkhū all that had happened, adding:

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

3.2

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:

3.3

‘sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

3.4

Katame satta?

3.5

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

3.6

ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

3.7

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā.

3.8

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

4.1

“Respect for the Teacher and the teaching,

Satthugaru dhammagaru,

4.2

and keen respect for the Saṅgha;

saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;

4.3

respect for samādhi, being energetic,

Samādhigaru ātāpī,

4.4

and keen respect for the training.

sikkhāya tibbagāravo.

5.1

A bhikkhu who respects diligence

Appamādagaru bhikkhu,

5.2

and hospitality

paṭisanthāragāravo;

5.3

can’t decline,

Abhabbo parihānāya,

5.4

and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

nibbānasseva santike”ti.

5.5

Paṭhamaṁ.