072

 

72. Phra Bot (Buddhist temple banner)

showing Sakyamuni Buddha with

his two chief disciples, the monks

Sariputra and Maudgalyayana,

date unknown, location unknown,

painting on cloth, 98 x 270 cm.

 

 

From the Pali Canon:

 

His teachings, always practical, include lessons in basic good manners:

“And how is a monk one with a sense of social gatherings? There is the case where a monk knows his social gathering: ‘This is a social gathering of noble warriors; this, a social gathering of priests; this, a social gathering of householders; this, a social gathering of contemplatives; here one should approach them in this way, stand in this way, act in this way, sit in this way, speak in this way, stay silent in this way.’ If he didn’t know his social gathering, he wouldn’t be said to be one with a sense of social gatherings. So it’s because he does know his social gathering that he is said to be one with a sense of social gatherings. This is one with a sense of Dharma, a sense of meaning, a sense of himself, a sense of moderation, a sense of time, and a sense of social gatherings.”

[AN VII.64]

 

…lessons in how to treat one’s parents:

Support for one’s parents,

assistance to one’s wife and children,

consistency in one’s work:

This is the highest protection.

[Sn II.4]