The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya VI.2
Garava Sutta
Reverence
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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.
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