Dhammapada 4.3.p5

4.3.p5

‘‘Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgataṃ kulaṃ anupagantvā vā nālaṃ upagantuṃ, upagantvā vā nālaṃ upanisīdituṃ. Katamehi navahi? Na manāpena paccuṭṭhenti, na manāpena abhivādenti, na manāpena āsanaṃ denti, santamassa pariguhanti, bahukampi thokaṃ denti, paṇītampi lūkhaṃ denti, asakkaccaṃ denti no sakkaccaṃ, na upanisīdanti dhammassavanāya, bhāsitamassa na sussūsanti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgataṃ kulaṃ anupagantvā vā nālaṃ upagantuṃ, upagantvā vā nālaṃ upanisīdituṃ.

“Monks, there are nine traits the possession of which by a family disqualifies that family from receiving visits from the monks. Therefore if monks have not visited that family, they are under no obligations to visit it; and if they do visit it, they are under no obligations to sit down. What are the nine? They do not rise to meet them in a pleasing manner; they do not greet them in a pleasing manner; they do not seat them in a pleasing manner; they conceal what they possess; possessing much, they give little; possessing food of superior quality, they give food of inferior quality; instead of presenting their offerings respectfully, they present them disrespectfully; they do not sit down to hear the Law; they do not speak in a pleasing tone of voice. These, monks, are the nine traits the possession of which by a family disqualifies that family from receiving visits from the monks. Therefore if monks have not visited that family, they

are under no obligations to visit it; and if they do visit it, they are under no obligations to sit down.