Respect for ConscienceHirigāravasutta

“Mendicants, tonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me:“Imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘Sir, these seven things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.‘sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. What seven?Katame satta? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for immersion, for conscience, and for prudence.Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, hirigāravatā, ottappagāravatā. These seven things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.’Ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

That is what that deity said.Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

One respectful of the Teacher and the teaching,Satthugaru dhammagaru, keenly respecting the Saṅgha;saṅghe ca tibbagāravo; respecting immersion, being energetic,Samādhigaru ātāpī, and keenly respecting the training;sikkhāya tibbagāravo.

endowed with conscience and prudence,Hiriottappasampanno, reverential and respectful—sappatisso sagāravo; it is impossible for them to decline;Abhabbo parihānāya, they have drawn near to extinguishment.”nibbānasseva santike”ti.