4.
The Second Discourse on Being Easy to Admonish
35.
"This night, monks, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, etc.
'There are these seven things, venerable sir, that lead to the non-decline of a monk.
Which seven?
Respect for the Teacher, respect for the Teaching, respect for the Community, respect for the training, respect for concentration, being easy to admonish, good friendship.
These, venerable sir, are the seven things that lead to the non-decline of a monk.'
This, monks, that deity said.
Having said this, having paid respect to me, having circumambulated me keeping me on his right, he disappeared right there."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One - "I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief thus. Here, venerable sir, a monk himself is respectful towards the Teacher and speaks in praise of respect for the Teacher. And those other monks who are not respectful towards the Teacher, he encourages them to respect for the Teacher. And those other monks who are respectful towards the Teacher, he speaks their praise - factual, true, at the right time. He himself is respectful towards the Teaching, etc. is respectful towards the Community, is respectful towards the training, is respectful towards concentration, is easy to admonish, has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship. And those other monks who do not have good friends, he encourages them to good friendship. And those other monks who have good friends, he speaks their praise - factual, true, at the right time. I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief thus."
"Good, good, Sāriputta! Good indeed, Sāriputta, you understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief. Here, Sāriputta, a monk himself is respectful towards the Teacher and speaks in praise of respect for the Teacher. And those other monks who are not respectful towards the Teacher, he encourages them to respect for the Teacher. And those other monks who are respectful towards the Teacher, he speaks their praise - factual, true, at the right time. He himself is respectful towards the Teaching, etc. is respectful towards the Community, is respectful towards the training, is respectful towards concentration, is easy to admonish, has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship. And those other monks who do not have good friends, he encourages them to good friendship. And those other monks who have good friends, he speaks their praise - factual, true, at the right time. This, Sāriputta, is how the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief should be understood in detail." The fourth.