At that time, when the Buddha Shakyamuni was in his pure and natural treasure and solemn palace, the Great Bhikkhus and the Bodhisattvas, as well as the countless tens of millions of billions of people, were all around the world-zun, preparing to listen to the Dharma.

At this time, Venerable Ananda stood up from his seat, tidyed up his clothes, knelt down on his right knee and folded his hands together, and said respectfully to the Buddha: Blessed One, you often say that people who hear a lot have great merits, if you teach others to learn and hear , this is how How much merit will a good man get ? After speaking, Ananda waited quietly for Buddha's answer.

 The Buddha said to Ananda: Ananda, since you asked me about this, I will explain it to you with metaphors. Because many wise people also understand the truth from metaphors. Ananda, for example, the three thousand thousand worlds, all trees, flowers, herbs, large or small, so that those trees that grow from the ground as thick as a horizontal finger, together with the branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, have complete substance. . Ananda, and among all the trees, the smallest like a horizontal finger, grows as many flowers and fruits as the sand of a Ganges River. For example, the branches and leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds that grow on one finger in the vertical direction are equivalent to the plants and trees that grow on the two fingers in the horizontal direction. By analogy this time, even more vegetation is born from the ground. For example, there are several branches and leaves, flowers and fruits, and seeds with three fingers.

Ananda, what do you mean to you? Can anyone count the number of those trees?

Ananda replied: Lord, no one can.

The Buddha said to Ananda: In that way, there are people who can count all the flowers, fruits and seeds with more than one finger. Those good men and good women teach others as few as one or four verses, show others the method of enlightenment and liberation ( Dharma ) , do not seek retribution, show compassion and compassion to others, and even teach people to attain arahantship. It did so want to read: What to facilitate skillful, so many beings in this way can the applied force of karma's sake, that he attained the Xu Tuohuan fruit and even arhatship (Shengwen four fruit), and can even make hair Bodhicitta. Because of his compassion and compassion, he taught him as few as one or four verses, explaining and distinguishing the meaning of them. Comparing this merit with the number of analogies before, it can't reach one percent, one thousandth, one hundredth, one hundredth, one thousandth, or a little bit of this merit. Such merit cannot be weighed and calculated . Ananda, those good men and good women can make others in the knowledgeable, or can proclaim a four-line verse to others, with deep roots in goodness.

After the Blessed One finished speaking, Ananda asked the Buddha again: It is rare. The Blessed One can say such a Dharma, it is rare. Blessed One, if there are good men and women who want to hear the Dharma, what kind of respect should they hold in the Dharma and at the teacher? After Ananda finished speaking, the Buddha said: Ananda, don't ask me what is the reason for such a thing? Nowadays, all beings do not have the heart to respect the Dharma. Ananda once again said to the Buddha: Lord, I am eager to admire the Dharma, have a deep respect for the Dharma, learn the Dharma, and do what the Dharma says. I have never heard of such a Dharma since I became a waiter of the World-Honored One. From now on, Blessed One, I will always follow the teachings of the Blessed One with such a respectful heart, without going against your teachings.

At this time, Ananda said to the Buddha: Blessed One, there will be good men and good women in the end of the Dharma. In all kinds of Buddhism, there may be a desire to admire, but only talk about it, or for reasons of seeking food, food, and benefit. Get out of the poor and humble, and say that you can do things in the same way. Although they are seeking the Dharma, but sentient beings do not have a righteous mind to practice and show a lowly appearance. This person has the same low-heartedness as before. Lord, I am asking this question for my own reasons. Those of us who are sincerely seeking the Dharma, how should we seek the Dharma and how should we do it?

After Ananda finished speaking, the Buddha said to Ananda: Ananda, if there are good men and good women who are willing to ask for the Dharma and want to read the Buddhist scriptures , they should go to the monk or preceptor and ask various questions about the Dharma there. , You can ask whatever you want. Bhikkhus and ordination masters should follow the roots of the dharma and tell them to rely on the teacher.

The seeker may have been in possession of the full precepts for ten or twenty years (precepts). For the sake of respecting the Dharma, they should still ask for compliance. What's the reason? Although I have said before, monks who have received full ordination for more than five years do not need to rely on the master. However, because Dharma-seekers respect the Dharma and have respect for monks and monks, and for this reason, they should rely on the master. What's the reason? Those who study want to learn Buddhism.

Ananda, the bhikkhu and ordained masters who were dependent, should do so for him. Said to him: I allow you to rely on it, you get the benefits of the Dharma, and I teach you that you should be cautious and obedient, don't let go, you should practice spiritual practice.

If a monk has received full ordination, he can withstand his dependence. If you can distinguish the meaning of the Dharma in this way, and be dependent on him, you will be called his dependent teacher. If there is a monk who has been fully ordained for a hundred years but cannot understand the meaning of the Buddhadharma as mentioned above, then he should also rely on it elsewhere. What's the reason? I still can't understand how much I want to be dependent on others and become a dependent teacher. If there is an elderly bhikkhu who has been fully ordained for a hundred years and cannot understand and explain the secrets of Salmon’s caste release (referring to Buddhism ), then this person should rely on others in the Buddhism. Although he has a hundred years of precepts, he does not understand the law. People should also rely on it.

If a bhikkhu asks for the Dharma from others, he should stand with respect and dignity next to the teacher. When you want to accept the Fa, you should not laugh, show your teeth, or cross your feet in front of your teacher, or look at your feet, your feet must shake, you must tilt your feet, your ankles must be neat, and you must not make him stand up or down. In front of the instructor, no high chair is allowed. The instructor can't talk casually if he doesn't ask questions. Anything that the instructor asks to be done must not be disobeyed. Don't look directly at the tutor's face, three elbows away from the tutor, the tutor should sit down as soon as he sits, and don't violate the teaching. Sit down and wait for the tutor to say something. Loving mentors should be raised.

If a disciple wants to learn the Dharma, he should kneel before the teacher and read the Buddhist scriptures first. If you have questions about reading, you should first ask if you can ask questions. If you see and hear permission, then you can ask questions. When the scholar listened to the Dharma answered by the teacher, he touched his right knee on the ground with both hands and bowed his heart to the teacher's residence. If the ground is flat and square, you should respectfully salute here; if the ground is uneven or narrow, you should stand up, and you can ask the Dharma when the teacher walks to a flat place; if you go to a flat place and worship the teacher after your feet, step back to a place ten cubits away, After saluting to the teacher, you can leave and return to other places at will.

In addition, disciples should always think like this: the teacher is observing my right and wrong behind me, and I should not let it go. If I come to my mentor and ask to answer my question, it is a good deed. If you can't come at any time, you should know that you should come to ask questions at three o'clock a day.

If the three times are not asked, then the instructor should use appropriate methods to teach.

In addition, if the disciples when asked ginseng mentor , tutor to see if the premises supervisor, should hold clods or wood or grass as a token to verify. If you see the teacher in the room (meditation, etc.), then the scholar should circle the room three times with sincerity, bow to the teacher before leaving. If you don't see the instructor and others, don't do any other tasks, except for toileting.

In addition, disciples are not allowed to speak vulgar language at the teacher's premises .

The instructor should not return the blame .

The instructor should wipe clean when sitting on the bed , so that there is no dust pollution, no insects, etc.

If the tutor is sitting and lying down until the tutor gets up, he should practice recitation of the scriptures .

Scholars should go to the tutor’s place from the sunrise to the east , be good at knowing when the hour is to go to the tutor, and consult and ask what I need to do. You should say to your instructor: Do you go to a place where everyone gathers? If the instructor is going to a place where people gather, the robes worn by the instructor should come forward and be given. You should wash your hands first. If you have finished washing your hands, you should use your own clothes and wipe your hands. When you go to the tutor's place, you should settle down physically and mentally, and kneel to the tutor with the long clothes in your hands. Then offer water to make the teacher wash his hands and face, then first offer the inner clothes, and then offer the rest of the clothes and daily use. There should be such a respectful heart in the tutor's place.

In addition, disciples are not allowed to wipe their noses and spit in front of the instructor .

If you are walking in the temple, do not cover your shoulders with cassocks and do not cover your head due to respect for your teacher .

The place where the instructor practices should be cleaned and wiped frequently .

If the weather is hot, use the fan as the instructor fan at 3 o'clock in the morning, midnight and evening , and hold water for the instructor to make the bath three times. The other 3 o'clock should offer cool drinking water.

You should know the time to beg for the teacher .

What the instructor does should do his best to help .

Take the instructor's bowl and wash to make it clean. If the teacher gives the baptism, first wash the teacher's bowl and then wash your own. If you give it, you should wash it, if you don't give it, you should not ask for it again. What's the reason? There is a cause. Ananda, bhikkhus think like this: Buddha, Tathagata, in the past, the bowl was not washed by anyone. Although the Tathagata allows you to do this, you should take care of yourself when studying Buddhism and do not rely on others.

Cold water should be prepared when it is hot , and warm water when it is cold . Everything needed should be prepared.

Do not chew poplar sticks (brush your teeth and rinse your mouth) in front of the noodle maker .

Don't talk about the teacher's fault with others .

If you see the instructor from a distance, you should get up and meet him immediately .

Ananda, whoever has a tutor, learns four verses along with him, or hears, reads, asks, or consults one or four sentences, so he is a tutor. Then scholars should always show respect and respect in the place of their tutors. If you don't do this, you are called disrespect, and you cannot be called a person who practices righteousness.

If you say that the teacher is at fault elsewhere, then this person must not use me as a teacher. What's the reason? Ananda, there is no reason why you do not love the Buddha (the enlightened person) with respect, so that people who do not have righteousness can love the Dhamma (the Dhamma of enlightenment) , and those who do not have a respectful heart should not love the Dhamma. Such a wicked person does not love the monks, and should not be counted in the number of monks. What's the reason? Because this foolish person doesn't do the right behavior.

Ananda, what the Buddha said is for the righteous person.

At that time, Venerable Ananda, after listening to the Buddha's words, wiped his face with tears and tears, saying: Blessed One, in the future life, few sentient beings will practice such correct behavior. Blessed One, we should do such a righteous deed, and I regard it as such a righteous deed now. Blessed One, if there is a monk, around the place of the teacher or the monk who has the cultivation level, there is no respect for it, and it is a long talk. What kind of reward will you get in the future life?

The Buddha said to Ananda: If there are bhikkhus in the future, or at the place of the teacher, or around the monk who has practiced, no respect arises. Those who say that the teacher and monk have strengths and weaknesses, this person will not be able to achieve Sudhahuan (practice 4 The first fruit in the fruit). This person is not ordinary. The foolish person should be like this. What's the reason? Ananda, the instructor did have faults and it shouldn't be said, besides, there is no.

Ananda, if there is a monk who is disrespectful by his tutor, I said that there is a small hell called Shipu , and they will fall into it. After falling into this place, the body on all sides burned, shaped like a fire, with a large and fierce flame, which burned endlessly, and would reignite when it burned out. In that hell place, there are all kinds of poisonous insects called hook*. This poisonous insect often bites the roots of the tongue. Such foolish people are born in the form of beasts in the animal realm after giving up their lives in the hell. Or Yegan (a kind of fox-like beast, smaller than a fox) body, or wolf body. At that time, all kinds of people would shout loudly when they saw it: The wolf is coming or the wild is coming. Ananda, this foolish person, was because he used to insult teachers or monks with cultivation skills, so those who saw him didn't like it. Because of the faults of the tongue in the past, I always eat excrement and urine. After giving up this figure, although he was born in the human world, he was often born in the border area (there is no place for Dharma). After being born in a border area, abandon all things that can cultivate merit, possess all kinds of evil laws, and stay away from all kinds of good laws. Although it has a human body, the skin does not resemble a person, and it cannot have the image of a person. It is not similar to the parents, and the parents hate it. After getting a person, he is often despised, slandered, and humiliated. Away from the Buddha and the World-Honored One, there is always no wisdom. After dying from this figure, he fell into hell soon.

What's the reason? Ananda, if someone is in the place of the teacher, the place of the teacher who gives the free method, the place of the teacher who teaches the practice method, the place of the teacher who teaches the true practice principle, he will be disrespectful and suffer such disasters.

Ananda, this stupid person, will have endless pain and sorrow from then on.

Ananda, if you hear a four-sentence verse from elsewhere, or copy it or write it on a bamboo silk, take the monks with cultivation skills and the names of Ajari, who is called a model, on your shoulders or carry them on your shoulders. Walk forward on the body or on the head, and provide all the music to the tutor. Ananda, even if you do such a thing, you can't fully repay your teacher's favor, and you can't be called deeply respectful of your teacher, let alone respect and respect the Dhamma.

Those who do the above-mentioned respect are called respectful teachers.

Ananda, if you have countless and boundless supplies, you can be called a support teacher.

Ananda, after many bhikkhus in the future have obtained this sutra, they will be disrespectful around the teacher and the monks with cultivation level. They have no correct behavior. They will always say their faults around the teacher and the monks with cultivation level. Ananda , I said that these foolish people will suffer many sufferings and will fall into evil ways in the future lives.

Ananda, I will say these words to you. The Tathagata has already said for you what is the right way and which is not the right way. In the future life, every monk will follow his actions, and reincarnation will have corresponding results. For this reason, Ananda, I teach you to always be respectful.

Ananda, if there are good men and women who can be respectful and respectful, this is the supreme law. It means to love and respect each Buddha, to respect the Buddhist scriptures and Dharma, and to respect the monk deeply, and you will enter the stage of practice. After the Buddha said this sutra, Venerable Ananda and the general public, heard what the Buddha said, and happily followed it.