Sutra on Proper Respect

Translated by Jñānagupta of the Sui Dynasty

This is what I heard:

At that time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Jewel-Adorned Hall, the place where the Tathagata had formerly practiced. The World-Honored One was then surrounded by a great assembly of bhikkhus, bodhisattva-mahasattvas, and countless hundreds of thousands of millions from the fourfold assembly. Together they gathered to listen to the Dharma.

At that time, the venerable Ananda rose from his seat, straightened his robe, placed his right knee on the ground, and with his ten fingers joined in reverence toward the Buddha, respectfully addressed him: "World-Honored One, the Tathagata often speaks of great merit for those who hear much. If one further teaches others to establish themselves in hearing much, World-Honored One, how much merit does that virtuous man attain?" Having spoken thus, he remained silent.

Then the World-Honored One said to the Elder Ananda, "Ananda, since you have asked me, for this reason I will give you a parable to explain it. Why is that? The wise understand meaning through parables.

Ananda, imagine a great universe of a thousand million worlds. In it, all the trees, herbs, grasses, and medicinal plants—whether small or large, even those as thin as a single finger's width growing from the ground—each and every one of them is fully equipped with branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Ananda, among all those trees, the smallest—those just a finger's width—produce as many flowers and fruits as there are grains of sand in one Ganges River. Those the size of two fingers' width produce as many flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, and branches as there are grains of sand in two Ganges Rivers. Going on in this way, whatever grows from the ground the width of three fingers produces as many branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits as there are grains of sand in three Ganges Rivers.

Ananda, what do you think? Could anyone possibly count how many trees there are?"

Ananda replied, “No, World-Honored One.”

At that time, the Buddha spoke further to Ananda, saying: "One could count the number of flowers, fruits, and seeds held on a single finger, yet the merit of a good man or woman who teaches even a single four-line verse to others—doing so without seeking reward, with a heart of compassion and pity—is beyond measure. This is even more so when such a person guides others to attain the fruit of Arhatship, thinking, 'By what skillful means can I help many beings, through the power of this gift of Dharma, to attain the fruit of Stream-entry, or even to become Arhats, or to awaken the mind of Enlightenment?' With such kindness and compassion, they teach others even a single four-line verse, explaining and revealing its meaning clearly. Compared to the merit described in the earlier simile, the merit of this teaching is unsurpassed. For each single share of that earlier merit, this merit is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one-billionth, not one-*koti*-part, not one-simile-part, not even one-*upanishad*-part—it is immeasurable and cannot be counted. Ananda! That man or woman has planted abundant roots of virtue, even enabling others to abide in much learning; further still, they expound even a single four-line verse to others."

At that time, after the World-Honored One had spoken these words, the elder Ananda again addressed the Buddha: "How wonderful, World-Honored One! How wonderful, Bhagavan! The Tathagata has spoken so profoundly. World-Honored One, for those good men and women who receive this teaching, what kind of reverence and respect should they show toward both the Dharma and the Dharma teacher?"

Once these words were spoken, the Buddha said to Ananda, "Ananda, do not ask me about such matters. Why? The people of this time have no reverence for the Dharma."

Ānanda again addressed the Buddha, saying, "Excellent, World-Honored One! I thirst for the Dharma and have deeply profound respect within this teaching, learning it as it truly is. Since I became your attendant, I have never before heard such a teaching as this. World-Honored One, from now on I will maintain a heart of reverence just as you have instructed, and will not go against the sacred teachings!"

At that time, Ananda again said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in the final period of the Dharma, there may be good men and good women who outwardly show reverence and devotion toward the teachings but only pay lip service. For the sake of clothing, food, and material gain, they shave their heads and leave home life from humble circumstances, saying: 'I can teach the Dharma.' Though they seek the Buddha's teachings, World-Honored One, these beings have no sincere intention to practice the Dharma; they exhibit signs of lowliness, and soon their minds revert to that lowly state. World-Honored One, I ask this question for my own sake: How should we abide? How should we practice?"