Respect the respected

Ven. Sayadaw is in Singapore so today we had invited Ajahn Santi for lunch. Ajahn Santi gives a short talk on respect or homage. Ajahn said, one should practice respect to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha) and also to our parents.

At the time of the Buddha, a man and his wife brought their son to give dana to a Bhikkhu. The Bhikkhu blessed the two adults but not their son. When asked, the Bhikkhu foresees that the boy is going to die in 7 days.

Shocked and frightened, the parent and the son went to see the Buddha. The Lord Buddha also blessed the parent and not the son as the Buddha also said that the son will die in 7 days.
Pleaded with metta, the parent requested the Buddha to save their son and the Buddha decided to do so.

Together with a large retinue of bhikkhus (arahants and senior monks), Lord Buddha proceed to their house.
After placing the boy on a platform, the Buddha and the monks seated around the boy and chants were offered for 7 days and 7 nights.

The presence of the Buddha, Arahants and celestial beings (Devas and Brahmas) distanced the petas and asuras from the boy. After the 7th day, the boy is still alive.
Years passed by and the boy grew up. When asked why did the boy still alive, the Buddha said that it is through the respect to the Triple Gem that the boy is saved from the evil ones.

This lesson from Ajahn Santi today showed that a simple act of paying respect had high effect on our lives.
Sadhu, Sadhu and sadhu.