35(4)Easy to Correct(2)
An expanded parallel of 6:69,without the preliminary portion of the latter.
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had advanced,a certaindeity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,approached me,paid homage to me,stood to one side,andsaid to me:'Bhante,there are these seven qualities that lead tothe non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for theTeacher,reverence for the Dhamma,reverence for the Sangha,reverence for the training,reverence for concentration,being easy to correct,and good friendship.
These seven qualities leadto the non-decline of a bhikkhu.'
This is what that deity said.
Then the deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared right there."
When this was said,the Venerable Sariputta said to the Blessed One:
"Bhante,I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief to be as follows.
Here,a bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not revere the Teacher to develop reverence for the Teacher
and,at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who revere the Teacher.
He himself reveres the Dhamma...reveres the Sangha...reveres the training...reveres concentration...is easy to correct...has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not have good friends to find good friends and,
at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who have good friends.
It is in such a way,Bhante,that I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief."
[The Blessed One said:]"Good,good,Sariputta!
It is good that you understand in detail the meaning of this statement that I have spoken in brief in such a way."
[The Buddha here repeats the whole statement of Sariputta,ending:][31]
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"It is in such a way,Sāriputta,that the meaning of this statement that I spoke in brief should be understood in detail."