Parent:: [[Caste]] Related:: [[Samana|Samaṇā]] # Brahmin (Priestly Class) / Brāhmaṇā (Truly spiritually developed person) > [!NOTE] What kind of "Brahmins" are worthy of veneration? — In Nagaravindeyyasutta ([MN150](https://suttacentral.net/mn150/en/sujato)) > ‘There are ascetics and brahmins who are **==free of greed, hate, and delusion==** for sights known by the eye, who are **==peaceful inside==**, and who **==conduct themselves well by way of body, speech, and mind==**. They **==deserve honor, respect, reverence, and veneration==**. > > _‘ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu **==vītarāgā vītadosā vītamohā==**, **ajjhattaṁ vūpasantacittā**, **samacariyaṁ caranti kāyena vācāya manasā**, evarūpā samaṇabrāhmaṇā **sakkātabbā garukātabbā mānetabbā pūjetabbā**._ > > Why is that? > _Taṁ kissa hetu?_ > > Because we ourselves are not free of these things, but we see that they have a **higher good conduct than us**. > > _Mayampi hi cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu avītarāgā avītadosā avītamohā, ajjhattaṁ avūpasantacittā, samavisamaṁ carāma kāyena vācāya manasā, tesaṁ no samacariyampi hetaṁ **uttari passataṁ**._ > > That’s why they deserve honor, respect, reverence, and veneration. > _Tasmā te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā sakkātabbā garukātabbā mānetabbā pūjetabbā._ > > **... (Same for ear, nose, ...)** > > --- > If wanderers of other religions were to ask you: > _Sace pana vo, gahapatayo, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:_ > > ‘But **what reasons and evidence** do you have regarding those venerables that justifies saying, > _‘ke panāyasmantānaṁ ākārā, ke anvayā, yena tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ vadetha?_ > > “Clearly those venerables are **free of greed, hate, and delusion**, or practicing to be free of them”?’ > _Addhā te āyasmanto **vītarāgā** vā rāgavinayāya vā paṭipannā, **vītadosā** vā dosavinayāya vā paṭipannā, **vītamohā** vā mohavinayāya vā paṭipannā’ti?_ > > You should answer them: > _Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, gahapatayo, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:_ > > ‘It’s because those venerables **frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest**. > _‘tathā hi te āyasmanto **araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti**._ > > In such places there are **no sights** known by the eye to see and enjoy, there are **no sounds** known by the ear to hear and enjoy, **no odors** known by the nose to smell and enjoy, **no flavors** known by the tongue to taste and enjoy, and **no touches** known by the body to feel and enjoy. > > _Natthi kho pana tattha tathārūpā cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā ye disvā disvā abhirameyyuṁ, natthi kho pana tattha tathārūpā sotaviññeyyā saddā ye sutvā sutvā abhirameyyuṁ, natthi kho pana tattha tathārūpā ghānaviññeyyā gandhā ye ghāyitvā ghāyitvā abhirameyyuṁ, natthi kho pana tattha tathārūpā jivhāviññeyyā rasā ye sāyitvā sāyitvā abhirameyyuṁ, natthi kho pana tattha tathārūpā kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā ye phusitvā phusitvā abhirameyyuṁ._ ^93fc16 ## Suttas - MN150 Nagaravindeyyasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/mn150/en/sujato)) - MN39 Mahāassapurasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/mn39/en/sujato)) - How to be a proper "Brahmin" or "Ascetics" (Samaṇā)