Appamādagārava Sutta

At one time,

Some devatā of exceeding beauty, 

At the waning of the night

Illuminating the whole of Jeta’s grove with her radiance

Went to the Awakened One, 

Paid loving homage,

And stood to the side. 

Then she said to the Awakened One:

[The Devatā]

“Bhante, there are seven things

That lead a monk to growth.”

What seven?

(1) One has respect for the Teacher,

(2) One has respect for the Dhamma, 

(3) One has respect for the Saṅgha, 

(4) One has respect for the training, 

(5) One has respect for mental composure, 

(6) One has respect for heedfulness, 

(7) One has respect for showing respect. [1]

Bhante, these are the seven things

That lead a monk to growth

Thus she spoke.

The teacher approved.

Then she thought: 

“The teacher approves of me”

And paying loving homage to the Awakened One,

She disappeared right there and left.

☙

Then, later that night, 

The Awakened One told the monks:

[The Buddha]

“Monks,

Some devata of exceeding beauty, 

At the waning of the night

Illuminating the whole of Jeta’s grove with her radiance

Came up to me, 

paid loving homage, 

and stood to the side. 

Then she said to me:

“Bhante, there are seven things

That lead a monk to growth.”

What seven?

(1) One has respect for the Teacher,

(2) One has respect for the Dhamma,

(3) One has respect for the Saṅgha,

(4) One has respect for the training,

(5) One has respect for mental composure,

(6) One has respect for heedfulness, 

(7) One has respect for showing respect.”

“Bhante, these are the seven things

That lead a monk to growth.”

That is what she said.

After declaring this, she paid homage

And disappeared right there.

One who esteems the Teacher and esteems the Dhamma,

Who sincerely esteems the saṅgha too,

Who is awake, and esteems Samādhi,

And who sincerely esteems the Training.

A monk who esteems heedfulness,

And who esteems showing respect,

That person is incapable of falling away,

And is in the presence of Nibbāna. [2]