“Mendicants, a family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with Divinity. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the elder gods. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the first tutors. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.

‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents. ‘Elder gods’ is a term for your parents. ‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents. ‘Worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods’ is a term for your parents. Why is that? Parents are very helpful to their children, they raise them, nurture them, and show them the world.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Parents are said to be ‘Divinity’ and ‘first tutors’. They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods <j>from their children, for they love their offspring.

Therefore an astute person would revere them and honor them with food and drink, clothes and bedding, anointing and bathing, and by washing their feet.

Because they serve their parents like this, they’re praised in this life by the astute, and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

So It Was Said 107 The Book of the Fours The Chapter on the Brahmin’s Offering of the Teaching Very Helpful

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, brahmins and householders are very helpful to you, as they provide you with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And you are very helpful to brahmins and householders, as you teach them the Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And you reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. That is how this spiritual path is lived supporting each other in order to cross over the flood and make a complete end of suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said: