Part 37 - The Practice Conducive to the Attainment of the Supramundane

The practice leading to the four maggas, four phalas and Nibbāna, the nine supramundane Dhamma, is the highest mode of honouring the Buddha. This practice, in accordance with Dhamma (Dhammānu dhamma paṭipatta), begins with getting established in the Triple Gem and culminates in the highest development that marks the change of the worldling into the lineage of the ariyas. Gotrabhū, the state of mental maturity, which is, so to speak, the threshold of magga-ñāṇa.

A bhikkhu, who indulges in the six kinds of disrespect (agārava), disobeys the rules of bhikkhu conduct, and lives an improper life using the four requisites, which are acquired unlawfully and not according to the rules of Vinaya, is one who does not practice in accordance with the Dhamma. The bhikkhu, who meticulously obeys every rule prescribed as bhikkhu conduct, is one who practises in accordance with the Dhamma. These observations apply equally to bhikkhunīs.

As for lay disciples, he who is in the habit of breaking the Five Precepts, (such as killing, etc.), which is also known as ‘the five veras’ because non-observance of these precepts are inimical to one’s own true interest; and who indulges in the ten courses of evil action, is called one who does not practise according to the Dhamma. The lay disciple, who is well established in the Triple Gem, who observes the Five Precepts, the Ten Precepts, who keeps fasting-day precepts on four fasting days and the four days prior to them, who is in the habit of giving charity, offerings of fragrant flowers to the Triple Gem, looking after his parents and ministers to the needs of men of virtue, is called a lay disciple who practises in accordance with the Dhamma. These observations apply equally to female lay disciples.

Honouring the Buddha by honouring the Dhamma (Dhammānu dhamma paṭipatta) is also called nirāmisa-pūjā. This kind of doing honour to the Buddha alone contributes to the perpetuation of the Teaching. So long as the four categories of the Buddha’s disciples, i.e. bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, lay male-disciples and lay female-disciples, are doing honour in this way the Teaching will shine forth like the full moon in the clear sky.)