{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an2.38/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an2.38","id":"suttacentral_an2.38","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an2.38/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time Venerable Mah\u0101kacc\u0101na was staying near Madhur\u0101 in the Nut Grass Grove. Then the brahmin Kandar\u0101yana went up to Mah\u0101kacc\u0101na, and exchanged greetings with him \u2026 He sat down to one side and said to Mah\u0101kacc\u0101na: \u201cI have heard, worthy Kacc\u0101na, that the ascetic Kacc\u0101na doesn\u2019t bow to old brahmins, the elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. And this is indeed the case, for the ascetic Kacc\u0101na does not bow to old brahmins, elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. This is not appropriate, worthy Kacc\u0101na.\u201d \u201cThere is the stage of an elder and the stage of youth as explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. If an elder, though eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old, still dwells in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more, they are reckoned as a child, not a senior. If a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life, does not dwell in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more, they are reckoned as astute, a senior.\u201d When this was said, the brahmin Kandar\u0101yana got up from his seat, placed his robe over one shoulder, and bowed with his head to the feet of the young mendicants, saying, \u201cThe good fellows are elders, at the stage of the elder; we are youths, at the stage of youth. Excellent, worthy Kacc\u0101na! \u2026 From this day forth, may the worthy Kacc\u0101na remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"38","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":327}