Living with Divinity

AN 4.63 · Aṅguttara Nikāya — The Numerical Discourses

A question to carry today

This discourse says a family where parents are honoured lives with divinity. What would you like to give your parents, or the elders in your family, this Tết?

One small act today

Call your parents or an elder in the family to ask how they are.

The reading

– Numbered Discourses 4.63

– 7. Fitting Deeds

Living with Divinity

“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 first tutors. 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 those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.

‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents.

‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents.

‘Elder gods’ is a term for your parents.

‘Worthy of an offering 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.

Parents are said to be ‘Divinity’and ‘first tutors’.They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods from their children,for they love their offspring.Therefore an astute personwould revere them and honor themwith food and drink,clothes and bedding,by anointing and bathing,and by washing their feet.Because they look aftertheir parents like this,they’re praised in this life by the astute,and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

Licence: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu)The translation belongs to the translator/source credited above. Please attribute when quoting.

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On the calendar: Thursday 4 February 2027

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