法苑珠林 19.15

19.15

又中阿含經云。云何知人勝所謂比丘知有二種人。有信有不信。若信者勝。不信者為不如也。謂信人復有二種。有數往見比丘。有不數往見比丘。若數往見比丘者勝。不數往見比丘者為不如也。謂數往見比丘人復有二種。有禮敬比丘。有不禮敬比丘。若禮敬比丘者勝。不禮敬比丘者為不如也。謂禮敬比丘人復有二種。有問經。有不問經。若問經者勝。不問經者為不如也。又舊雜譬喻經云。昔有國王出游。每見沙門輒下車禮。道人言。大王止不得下車。王言。我上不下。所以言上不下者。今我為道人作禮。壽終已後當生天上。是故言上不下也。

The Madhyama Āgama also states: "How does one know that a person is superior? That is to say, a bhikṣu knows there are two kinds of people: those who have faith and those who lack faith. Those who have faith are superior; those who lack faith are inferior. Furthermore, of those who have faith, there are two kinds: those who frequently go to see bhikṣus, and those who do not frequently go to see bhikṣus. Those who frequently go to see bhikṣus are superior; those who do not frequently go to see bhikṣus are inferior. Furthermore, of those who frequently go to see bhikṣus, there are two kinds: those who bow down in veneration to bhikṣus, and those who do not bow down in veneration to bhikṣus. Those who bow down in veneration to bhikṣus are superior; those who do not bow down in veneration to bhikṣus are inferior. Furthermore, of those who bow down in veneration to bhikṣus, there are two kinds: those who inquire about the sūtras, and those who do not inquire about the sūtras. Those who inquire about the sūtras are superior; those who do not inquire about the sūtras are inferior." The Old Sūtra of Parables also states: "In ancient times, a king went on an excursion. Whenever he saw a śramaṇa, he would descend from his chariot to prostrate. The monk said: 'Your Majesty, stop; you must not descend from your chariot.' The king said: 'I am going up, not down.' The reason he said 'going up, not down' was: 'Now that I pay homage to the monk, after my life ends I shall be born in heaven; for this reason I say going up, not down.'"