Wah, So Dark ah .........

Wah! So Dark ah .......

I was at a fast food restaurant enjoying my meal when suddenly a lady's voice rang out :

"Wah! So dark ah?! Why you wear so dark? So dark until cannot see you."

She was talking to a guy at the next table about his outfit - black shirt and pants.

Interestingly, the lady, and the group of lady friends who were with her, were also dressed in black, and other dark colours from head to toe.

That's when The Buddha's words rang in my mind :

"Easily seen are others' faults; Hard to see are our own."

The lady is wearing black from head to toe, yet she can't see;

Instead, she said that of her guy friend.

Well, I suppose it must be very dark on her side, too, since she can't see, doesn't realise that she, and her group of lady friends are wearing black/dark colours.

It must be because darkness is 'in', such that everyone can't see.




"When this world is ever ablaze,

Why the laughter?

Why the jubilation?

Shrouded in Darkness,

Will you not seek The Light?"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 146




"This world is blind;

Here there are few who clearly (truly) see.

Like few birds escape from a net,

Only few go to blissful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 174




"Come, look at this world,

Resembling an ornamented royal chariot;

Herein fools are sunk,

But for the wise, there is NO attachment."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 171




"The extent of how many wicked people there are corresponds to the numbers of 'disturbers of society'.

The more there are, the more hellish the world becomes.

It is then dark both in the night and daytime, and in a constant state of agitation.

There is no need to go and search after Hell for it is being constructed right there in the Hearts of people,

And then scattered and extended everywhere,

Turning everything into fire."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno

Paradox ......... Not

Paradox ......... Not !


In "The World" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/world.html, I quoted The Buddha saying the world is blind.

In the same entry, I also say that the world can't see suffering.

Yet, in the same breath, in "Pureland Paradise" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/pureland-paradise.html, I say that 'a beautiful world can only be seen through the eyes of a happy heart'.

Some people may feel that what I say is ambiguous, paradox, contradicting myself.

Actually, no.

There's no ambiguity, contradiction, paradox at all.

When you're asleep, you can't see.

When you start to wake up that's when you begin to see.

AND, when you finally wake up, what else is there to see?

There's no more need for you to see, cos you would have seen it all, and experienced.

Likewise, people say The Buddha's Teaching is ambiguous, a paradox.

There's no paradox at all.

Take the 1st Truth - There is suffering.

You have to be in the midst of suffering, experiencing suffering, for you, hopefully, to know (and see) there is suffering.

In order to know it, comprehend it completely - what it (i.e. suffering) feels like etc.

Just as I said in "Talk Talk Talk" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/01/talk-talk-talk.html, you have to be in it to know it.

If you're not in it, how can you know 'it' ?

Likewise, to end suffering, you have to suffer first, so that you can know it, what it is like and how to end it.

In other words,

You have to go through suffering to know suffering to end suffering.

Take an example : To untie a knot, you have to know how the knot was being tied in the 1st place.

So, to know un-becoming, you have to become first.

Take another example : Would the ministers sitting in their cushy posh ivory tower offices know what the man in the street feels?

What the cleaning auntie goes through day after day?

Would they, the Ministers, being driven and escorted in big luxurious cars with roads cleared for them know what it feels like to be caught in a jam?

Or to squeeze with others in the MRT?

Or how it feels being pushed and packed like sardines, smelling each others' sweat and body odour in a bus which air-con is not working, or leaking, with cockroaches running about?

Similarly, would someone staying in a landed, or private property know what someone in a rented flat goes through day after day?

The incessant incense burning, noise from upstairs, downstairs, next door and across, with loansharks scrawling on the walls?

People who are not in it but claims to have knowledge about/of it, are just speculating -

Using their own assumption, presumption, interpretation, imagination.

To truly be able to help and serve the masses,

You have to go down to the masses,

To live with them,

To see and experience what they, the people, go through,

Including their suffering.

Like I said in "The Teacher and The Teachings (Part 2) - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/teacher-and-teachings-part-2-teachings.html, and

"The Guru and His Bowl" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/07/guru-and-his-bowl.html,

Many people can say alot of wow-wow things, sprout lyrical and impress/fool the ignorant,

But it's all speculation.

(Read "Why Like That" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-like-that.html, and

"How Much is True" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-much-is-true.html)

So, ambiguous? Paradox? Contradictory?

Nah .........

Only The Truth.



*** Read

1) 'Why He Has to Go' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-he-has-to-go.html

2) 'How Will We Know' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-will-we-know.html




"The wise one dispels negligence by means of mindfulness;

He ascends the Tower of Wisdom

And being free from sorrow looks at the sorrowing beings.

Just as one on the mountain top looks at those on the plain below,

So also, The Wise One (The Arahant) looks at the ignorant."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 28




"The Dhamma tends to arise in places where things are lacking,

In difficult places where we're cornered, at the end of our rope.

It doesn't arise where things are over flowing, where our needs are met.

It doesn't arise in comfortable places because we just get complacent.

(And) This is the way we tend to be."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"The real Dhamma can only be realised through practice."

- The Buddha




"People whose understanding is founded upon knowledge gained through memorisation are very preoccupied with their own ideas,

Always assuming they are highly intelligent.

IN TRUTH, they are COMPLETELY DELUDED."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"There is a great gap between written and spoken Dhamma,

AND The Dhamma manifesting within a person's mind."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




"If one only has knowledge of books, scriptures, sermons and sutras,

Even in hundreds of lives,

One will NEVER know purity, radiance and peacefulness of mind."

- Venerable Ajahn Chah




"Though much he recites the sacred text,

But acts NOT accordingly;

That heedless man is like a cowherd who counts others' kine.

He has NO SHARE in the fruits of the Holy life.

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 19

I don't know

I don't know


Once, a learned 'buddhist', highly respected, highly certified and endowed with superior knowledge of the scriptures, spoke to Maitreya.

Scholar : Do you know the XXX sutta?

Maitreya : No, I don't.

Eyeing Maitreya suspiciously and with doubt the scholar continued,

"Do you know the XXX sutra under the Mahayana discipline, then?"

Maitreya : Nope, I don't know that either.

Getting impatient and visibly irritated, but trying to stay calm and maintain his composure, the learned 'buddhist' asked again, this time in a stern loud and authoratative tone :

"Do you know the teaching by the renowned XXX guru - the "living buddha" ?"

Maitreya : I don't know that one either - never heard of it.

Flabbergasted, his face flushed red hot with anger, the 'buddhist' screamed at Maitreya,

"What then do you know?!"

Lighting into a smile, Maitreya replied happily,

"There's suffering, The Cause of suffering, There's a way out of suffering and the way out of suffering is Nibbana, There's a path leading to the way out of suffering - The Noble Eightfold Path ......... And that sir, is ALL that I know."



"People may know, but how many understand?

Of the few who understood, how many believe?

Of the few who believed, how many see?

Of the few who saw, how many try?

Of the few who tried, how many realise?

Of the few who realised, how many, will be Enlighten?"




"Involvement = Attachment = Entanglement = Trap = SUFFERING

Non-involvement = Non-attachment = Non-entanglement = Freedom -> Nibbana."




"It is through NOT understanding, NOT realising 4 things,

That I, disciples, as well as you,

Had to wander so long through this round of rebirths.

And what are these 4 things?

They are :

1) The Ariyan (Noble) Truth of Dukkha (Suffering)

2) The Ariyan (Noble) Truth of the Origin of Dukkha

3) The Ariyan (Noble) Truth of the Extinction of Dukkha

4) The Ariyan (Noble) Truth of The Path that leads to the extinction of Dukkha."

- The Buddha, Digha Nikaya No. 16




"Seeking controversy, they plunge into an assembly,

Regarding one another as fools.

Relying on others' authority, they speak in debate.

Desiring praise, they claim to be skilled .........

These desputes have arisen among contemplatives.

In them are elation, dejection.

Seeing this, one should abstain from disputes

For they have NO other goal than the gaining of praise.

He who is praised there for expounding his doctrine in the midst of the assembly,

Laughs on that account and grows haughty,

Attaining his heart's desire.

That haughtiness will be his grounds for vexation,

For he'll speak in pride and conceit.

Seeing this, one should abstain from debates

NO purity is attained by them, say the skilled."

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata 4 : 8




"Vision arose, insight arose, discernment arose, knowledge arose, illumination arose within me with regard to things never heard before:

'This is the noble truth of stress'...

'This noble truth of stress is to be comprehended'...

'This noble truth of stress has been comprehended.'


'This is the noble truth of the origination of stress'...

'This noble truth of the origination of stress is to be abandoned' ...

'This noble truth of the origination of stress has been abandoned.'


'This is the noble truth of the cessation of stress'...

'This noble truth of the cessation of stress is to be directly experienced'...

'This noble truth of the cessation of stress has been directly experienced.'


'This is the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress'...

'This noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress is to be developed'...

'This noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress has been developed.'


"And, monks, as long as this — my three-round, twelve-permutation knowledge & vision concerning these Four Noble Truths as they have come to be was — not pure, I did not claim to have directly awakened to the right self-awakening unexcelled in the cosmos with its deities, Maras, & Brahmas, with its contemplatives & priests, its royalty & commonfolk.

BUT as soon as this — my three-round, twelve-permutation knowledge & vision concerning these four noble truths as they have come to be — was truly pure, then I did claim to have directly awakened to the right self-awakening unexcelled in the cosmos with its deities, Maras & Brahmas, with its contemplatives & priests, its royalty & commonfolk.

Knowledge & vision arose in me:

'Unprovoked is my release. This is the last birth. There is now no further becoming.'"

- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html

- The Buddha, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion




"Anybody can learn and memorise the names and symbols of Dhamma because they are things which anybody should be able to memorise.

BUT the important thing is the TRUE Dhamma whose name and symbols one has naturally in oneself without having to learn it by repetition and memorising -

And this kind of Dhamma is Difficult to practise, Difficult to see, and Difficult to KNOW."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




"Deep Vaccha, is this phenomenon,

Hard to see, Hard to realise,

Tranquil, Refined,

Beyond the scope of conjecture

Subtle,

To-be-experience ( ONLY ) by The Wise.

For those with other views, other practices, other satisfactions, other aims, other teachers,

It is DIFFICULT to know."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 72




"And I discovered that profound Truth,

So difficult to perceive, difficult to understand,

Tranquilizing and sublime,

Which is NOT to be gained by mere reasoning and is visible ONLY to the wise.

The world, however, is given to pleasure, delighted with pleasure, enchanted with pleasure.

Truly such beings will hardly understand the Law of Conditionality, the

Dependent Arising of Everything,

Incomprehensible to them will also be the end of existence conditions;

The forsaking of every substranum of rebirth; the fading away of craving; detachment, extinction, Nibbana.

Yet there are beings whose eyes are only a little covered with dust -

They will understand the Truth."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya Sutta no.26

WHY ?

WHY ?


There's a recurring theme in both Ajahn Mun's and Ajahn Boowa's teachings -

And that is, "You fight till the end, even till the last breath."

You must be willing to die for The Truth, to know/realise The Truth.

The Buddha, likewise, sacrifice his life just to know/realise The Truth/The Dhamma.

Why?

Because it's TRUE.

Along the path, there will be many testing situations that challenges us to the limit.

Attacks even, in all forms, coming from all fronts, to the point there's no one you can trust.

The journey is fraught with danger and difficulties,

And you must be ready to put your life on the line.

It can be a frustrating and tedious affair that makes you cry

Cos every attempt to escape is repeatedly thwarted from different forces from all sides.

It's practically a living Hell.

But all these only go to strengthen the steely resolve to get out.

Even with the last ounce of strength left, we must NOT give up.

Even if we were to break a leg, lose a limb, get injured, lose our life even, we push on.

If we have to crawl, we crawl -

Just so we can get there.

WHY?

Because IT'S WORTH IT.




"Nibbana - The Highest bliss - THE PEAK."




"There's no bliss like the Perfect Peace of Nibbana."

- The Buddha




"The Buddha's path was intended for all who cared and dared to take up the challenge.

There would be NO point in teaching those who WOULD NOT listen, or would listen without respect or interest,

Taking The Dhamma for granted and treating it as merely common place."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




"If we're going to die, then let's die.

If not, then let's know The Dhamma.

If things get tough, we fight.

If they're easy, we fight.

If we're going to die, we still fight until we have no more breath to breathe ........."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"I die, I die.

I don't give a damn anymore.

I spit at birth, I spit at life.

Life and birth is NOTHING, but SUFFERING.

I've seen it all, tasted it all.

Enough!

I want NOTHING to do with life and birth NO MORE!




"I spit on my life.

Death in battle would be better for me

Than that I, defeated

Survive."

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata III.2

"You Mara, whose heart is NOT white BUT TOTALLY BLACK

And whose craving is gigantic!

They are also your guns, canons, and explosives that kill every recluse or hermit in their way.

Those poor worldlings, who possess NO strong faith, will, energy and WISDOM, and who lack courage,

Are NOT capable of repelling your attack and escaping from it.

Only those EXTREMELY adventurous heroes, whose Faith, Will, Energy and Wisdom are great;

They can fight and put up resistance and escape.

Because in this world certain ascetics and Brahmins, who went to the battlefront donning the yellow robe

But who are WITHOUT strength, are overpowered by your tenfold great Army.

Thus, they are like those who, without the Light of such Virtues as Morality, etc.,

Happen to have entered into darkness,

They can by NO means know the road of the Jewelled Wheel of Dhamma,

Which is the Excellent Path taken by The Buddhas, Pacceka-Buddhas and other Noble Ones to attain Nibbana.

Therefore, YOU Mara, I would like you to take me as one who would fight and vanquish your tenfold Army

And raise The Flag of Victory!"

- The Buddha, Padhana Sutta

The Gambler

The Gambler


Once, a man who's intoxicated with gambling went to see The Buddha.

He had been trying to gain an audience with The Wise One for some time, yet each time, he seems to miss the opportunity somehow.

He has heard much about The Supreme One's psychic abilities, how The Great Teacher is The All-Knowing, Seeing One,

Surely such a One would know the winning numbers to the weekly lottery, he thought

The Buddha knew the man was coming, and his motive.

But, The Buddha, through his Supranormal Divine vision, also knew that the time has come for the man to be enlightened as his past good kamma has ripen.

So, The Great Teacher sat on his seat and patiently awaits the man.

When the man arrived, he dutifully bowed to The Buddha respectfully and sat on one side.

Without wasting time, the man began, "They say you're The All-Knowing One, that you know everything."

"Yes, that's me," said The Buddha.

"So, you would know the numbers to this week's lottery, then?" asked the man.

The Buddha calmly nodded his head.

"Ha! Ha! The Buddha fell into my trap," thought the man, as he challenged The Buddha, "Prove it!"

"Ok!" The Buddha readily agreed.

"It must be my lucky day," thought the man, surprised at how easy and smooth the whole thing went as he quickly took out a pen and paper and stared earnestly at The Buddha with deep concentration and mindfulness.

"I was thinking ........." began The Buddha," instead of me giving you the numbers, why don't I show you how to do it? That way, you don't have to come see me every week and depend on me. You can do it yourself."

"Wow! Actually that's even better. How come I didn't think of that?" thought the man, "No wonder they say He's The Wise One."

"Ya! Ya! Ya! That's an excellent idea!" the man replied enthusiastically, excitedly, thinking of all the money he would win week after week.

So, they did this - The Buddha and the gambler - The Buddha gave the gambler the meditation subject and assured him that within the next 48 hours, he would have knowledge of all the winning numbers to the different lotteries, BUT ONLY if he practise hard enough, ardently.

The man went home happily and practised hard on his meditation subject, as instructed by The Buddha, not caring night and day, disregarding all else.

Sure enough, as promised by The Buddha, during the 48 hours, he was able to see all the winning numbers to the different lotteries.

But not only that .........

He became enlightened.

And he has no want or need to win any lottery anymore,

For the bliss of Nibbana excels all other bliss .........

Including that of winning a lottery.



"The gift of Truth (Dhamma) excels all other gifts,

The Flavour of Truth (Dhamma) excels all other flavours.

The pleasure in Truth (Dhamma) excels all other pleasures;

He who has destroyed craving overcomes ALL sorrows."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 354




"Nibbana - The highest bliss/happiness."

- The Buddha




"Rare is the birth as a human being,

Hard is the life of mortals;

Hard is the hearing of the Sublime Truth (Dhamma),

Rare is the appearance of The Buddha."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 182





"The opportunity to listen to The Dhamma is considered valuable

Both because it is rare and because it yields great benefits.

Hard is the chance to hear the True Dhamma."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 182

The 10 Greatest Blessings


"Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise; and to honor those who are worthy of honor — this is the greatest blessing.


To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past and to set oneself in the right course — this is the greatest blessing.


To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft, well-trained in discipline, and to be of good speech — this is the greatest blessing.


To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.


To be generous in giving, to be righteous in conduct, to help one's relatives, and to be blameless in action — this is the greatest blessing.


To loathe more evil and abstain from it, to refrain from intoxicants, and to be steadfast in virtue — this is the greatest blessing.


To be respectful, humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to the Dhamma on due occasions — this is the greatest blessing.


To be patient and obedient, to associate with (good/worthy) monks and to have religious discussions on due occasions — this is the greatest blessing.


Self-restraint, a holy and chaste life, the perception of the Noble Truths and the realisation of Nibbana — this is the greatest blessing.


A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated — this is the greatest blessing.


Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established. These are the greatest blessings."


- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/narada/wheel014.html#maha

- The Buddha, Maha-mangala Sutta: The Discourse on the Greatest Blessings





The 10 Causes of a man's Downfall


Easily known is the progressive one, easily known he who declines. He who loves Dhamma progresses; he who is averse to it, declines.


The wicked are dear to him, with the virtuous he finds no delight, he prefers the creed of the wicked — this is a cause of one's downfall.


Being fond of sleep, fond of company, indolent, lazy and irritable — this is a cause of one's downfall.


Though being well-to-do, not to support father and mother who are old and past their youth — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To deceive by falsehood a brahman or ascetic or any other mendicant — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To have much wealth and ample gold and food, but to enjoy one's luxuries alone — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To be proud of birth, of wealth or clan, and to despise one's own kinsmen — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To be a rake, a drunkard, a gambler, and to squander all one earns — this is a cause of one's downfall.


Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others — this is a cause of one's downfall.


Being past one's youth, to take a young wife and to be unable to sleep for jealousy of her — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To place in authority a woman given to drink and squandering, or a man of a like behavior — this is a cause of one's downfall.


To be of noble birth, with vast ambition and of slender means, and to crave for rulership — this is a cause of one's downfall.


Knowing well these causes of downfall in the world, the noble sage endowed with insight shares a happy realm.

- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/narada/wheel014.html#para

- The Buddha, Parabhava Sutta: The Discourse of a man's Downfall

Mirror Mirror On The Wall ...

Mirror Mirror On The Wall ...


The state of the world reflects the state of the minds of the people.

In "What Do We Expect?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-do-we-expect.html and "Pureland Paradise" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/pureland-paradise.html,

I mentioned that, "If the hearts and minds of the people are pure, The whole world will be pure."

Likewise, a dirty world/environment only reflects the minds of the people - DIRTY.

The same principle/philosophy also applies to a country, a state, a family, an individual.

If the living environment of the people is dirty, it only reflects the minds of the people/inhabitants living there - dirty.

Take an example :

You visit someone's/a friend's room, and it's messy, dirty and untidy.

What does it tell you of the person's character?

Only a messy, dirty, lazy and untidy person who's unappreciative, ungrateful and selfish can 'produce a messy, dirty, untidy room. ( Read "Because" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/because.html )

Likewise, if a house is dirty/untidy, it only means and goes to show that the inhabitants are dirty, untidy, lazy, unappreciative and nonchalant about their living environment.

Of course nowadays the majority of the families have maids (regardless part-time or full-time) and people or someone to clean up after us.

And our house is clean not because we, the people/owners are clean,

But because there're these domestic helpers to ensure and maintain it clean for us.

And it is due to the diligence and hardwork of these cleaners who keeps and maintains the cleanliness and tidiness of the place.

It does not necessarily mean the inhabitants/residents of the house, block, or place, are the ones who keeps and maintains the cleanliness.

More often than not, we merely and only give/issue orders.

In the same way, some countries 'look' and seems very clean.

The question is, "Or is it?"

The real test comes when suppose all the cleaners and the people in the cleaning profession were to stop work for 1 day...2 days...3 days...1 week...2 weeks...3 weeks...1 month...2 months...3 months...1 year.............

What do you think?



"If you can only control your mind,

You will have nothing more to control.

So guard your mind."

- The Buddha




"The mind is difficult to control,

Swiftly and lightly it moves and lands wherever it pleases.

It is good to tame the mind,

For a well-tamed mind brings Happiness."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 35




"The mind is very difficult to perceive,

Very delicate and subtle.

It moves and lands wherever it pleases.

The wise one should guard his mind,

For a guarded mind brings Happiness."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 36




"Whatever harm a foe may do to a foe,

Or a hater to a hater.

Yet an ill-directed mind can do oneself far greater harm."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 42




"There is no fire like lust/greed,

No evil like anger and hatred;

There is no ill like the burden of the 5 aggregates of existence,

And, there is no bliss like the Perfect Peace of Nibbana."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 202

Downfall of Families

Downfall of Families


"Headman, recollecting back over 91 aeons, I do NOT know any family to have been brought to downfall through the giving of cooked alms.

On the contrary:

Whatever families are rich — with much wealth, many possessions, a great deal of money, a great many accoutrements of wealth, a great many commodities —

ALL have become so from Giving, from Truth, from Restraint.


"Headman, there are Eight causes, Eight reasons for the downfall of families.

Families go to their downfall because of kings,

Or families go to their downfall because of thieves,

Or families go to their downfall because of fire,

Or families go to their downfall because of floods,

Or their stored-up treasure disappears,

Or their mismanaged undertakings go wrong,

OR, in the family a wastrel is born who squanders, scatters, & shatters its wealth,

And, inconstancy itself is the eighth.

These are the Eight causes, the Eight reasons for the downfall of families.


Now, when these eight causes, these eight reasons are to be found,

If anyone should say of me,

'The Blessed One is practicing for the ruin of families, The Blessed One is practicing for the demise of families, The Blessed One is practicing for the downfall of families' —

Without abandoning that statement, without abandoning that intent, without relinquishing that view —

Then as if he were to be carried off, he would thus be placed in Hell."

- SN 42.9: Kula Sutta — Families

- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 42:9




"In this world, whatever gift or alms a person seeking merit should offer for a year,

All that is NOT worth a single quarter of the reverence towards

The Upright ( i.e. The Noble Sangha - The Noble Ones - Those who have attained at least Sotapanna/Stream Entry )

Which is excellent."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 108




"For one who is in the habit of constantly honouring and respecting the Elders ( i.e. The Arahants ),

4 blessings increase - Age, Beauty, Bliss and Strength."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 109