Dakkhina Vibhanga Sutta

And the Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī. 

It is owing to the Buddha that Mahāpajāpatī has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. 

It’s owing to the Buddha that she refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying, and taking alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. 

It’s owing to the Buddha that she has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and has the ethics loved by the noble ones. 

It’s owing to the Buddha that she is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation. The Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.”

https://suttacentral.net/mn142/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

In the previous post, Ananda recounted how Mahapajapati had been a good mother to Buddha. Here, we see Ananda stating how the Buddha had, in return, helped Mahapajapati’s spiritual growth. One of the important terms in this passage is “experiential confidence”

This describes a state of spiritual maturity in Buddhism, whereby one has gained very deep personal experience and insight about the Triple Gems. In that manner, one’s refuge can no longer be shaken or broken. We can say this is the 1st achievement in Buddhist spirituality. It is not based on blind faith but based on right understanding and wisdom. Consequently, right mindfulness of the Triple Gems is achieved.

Next, we also see Ananda stating that Mahapajapati is free of doubt regarding the 4 Noble Truths from the following verse: “it’s owing to the Buddha that she is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation. The Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.””

That’s so true, Ānanda. When someone has enabled you to go for refuge, it’s not easy to repay them by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with joined palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. 

When someone has enabled you to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, it’s not easy to repay them … 

When someone has enabled you to have experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and the ethics loved by the noble ones, it’s not easy to repay them … 

When someone has enabled you to be free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, it’s not easy to repay them by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with joined palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

After Ananda’s words, Buddha replied with the above. Herein, we see Buddha express the significance of another person’s kindness toward us when they help us or enable us or influence us to

1. take refuge in the triple gems
2. observe the 5 precepts
3. Develop insights and establish experiential confidence in the Triple Gems
4. Become free of doubts regarding the 4 Noble Truths

At a personal level, we need to have that sense of gratitude towards our spiritual benefactor or mentor.

On the other hand, it also means that we can help other people immensely if we can provide them or enable them to do any of the 4 aforesaid. Therefore, if opportunity arise, and someone is interested to find out more about Buddha’s teachings, it will be good for us to share as much as we know. Or help them as much as we could.

Besides, telling and sharing our personal experiences with them, we can also direct them to authentic Buddhist resources on the internet, or recommend books and teachers to them.

May all be well and happy.