In this sutta, the Buddha was accused of being discourteous to the old and aged Brahmins for not paying homage, standing up or offering them a seat. Does simply being old and advanced in life make one an elder and entitle one to demand respect from others? Not according to the Buddha. Respect is to be given to wise elders, not to foolish or childish elders. What makes a wise elder then? A wise elder, as defined by the Buddha, is someone who is virtuous, speaks the truth, speaks what is beneficial, and well versed on the Dhamma. For someone who is young and has such calibre, he too can be considered as a wise elder. In addition, wise elders should have four qualities and what are these? If respect is not given to foolish or childish elders or even evil and unwholesome elders, then what should be accorded to them instead?
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