“Tonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: ‘Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant. What six? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training; being easy to admonish, and good friendship. These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.’

That is what that deity said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.”

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha: