9.
The Discourse on Deities
19.
"This night, monks, many deities, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached me;
having approached, they paid respect to me and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, monks, those deities said this to me:
'Formerly, venerable sir, when we were human beings, those gone forth approached our houses.
We, venerable sir, rose up for them, but we did not pay respect.
We, venerable sir, with incomplete actions, remorseful, regretful, have been reborn in an inferior class.'
"Still other many deities, monks, having approached me, said this: 'Formerly, venerable sir, when we were human beings, those gone forth approached our houses. We, venerable sir, rose up for them and paid respect, but we did not give them a seat. We, venerable sir, with incomplete actions, remorseful, regretful, have been reborn in an inferior class.'
"Still other many deities, monks, having approached me, said this: 'Formerly, venerable sir, when we were human beings, those gone forth approached our houses. We, venerable sir, rose up for them, paid respect, and gave them a seat, but we did not share according to our ability, according to our strength... etc. we shared according to our ability, according to our strength, but we did not sit close for the hearing of the Teaching... etc. we sat close for the hearing of the Teaching, but we did not listen to the Teaching with ears inclined... etc. we listened to the Teaching with ears inclined, but having heard, we did not retain the Teaching... etc. having heard, we retained the Teaching, but we did not investigate the meaning of the teachings retained... etc. we investigated the meaning of the teachings retained, but having understood the meaning and having understood the Teaching, we did not proceed in accordance with the Teaching. We, venerable sir, with incomplete actions, remorseful, regretful, have been reborn in an inferior class.'
"Still other many deities, monks, having approached me, said this: 'Formerly, venerable sir, when we were human beings, those gone forth approached our houses. We, venerable sir, rose up for them, paid respect, gave them a seat, shared according to our ability, according to our strength, sat close for the hearing of the Teaching, listened to the Teaching with ears inclined, having heard, retained the Teaching, investigated the meaning of the teachings retained, and having understood the meaning and having understood the Teaching, proceeded in accordance with the Teaching. We, venerable sir, with complete actions, without remorse, without regret, have been reborn in a superior class.' These, monks, are tree-roots, these are empty houses. Meditate, monks, do not be negligent, do not be remorseful afterwards, just as those former deities." The ninth.