# Question about the 7 vows

**URL:** <https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499>\
**Category:** General Theravada topics\
**Created:** [October 18, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499 "2024-10-18T13:38:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/67e7ee/32.png) [@HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/HappinessSeeker)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499/1 "2024-10-18T13:38:27Z")

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Is it possible to observe the first 2 vows when one becomes a monk?

> At Sāvatthī.
> 
> “Mendicants, in a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka. What seven?
> 
> **As long as I live, may I support my parents. As long as I live, may I honor the elders in the family.** As long as I live, may I speak gently. As long as I live, may I not speak divisively. As long as I live, may I live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. As long as I live, may I speak the truth. As long as I live, may I be free of anger, or should anger arise, may I quickly get rid of it.
> 
> In a former life, when Sakka was a human being, he undertook seven vows. And it was because of undertaking these that he achieved the status of Sakka.

> A person who respects their parents,and honors the elders in the family,whose speech is gentle and courteous,and has given up divisiveness;
> 
> who’s committed to getting rid of stinginess,is truthful, and has mastered anger:the gods of the thirty-threesay they really are a true person.”

[https://suttacentral.net/sn11.11/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=sidebyside&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin](https://suttacentral.net/sn11.11/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=sidebyside&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

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**Author:** ![bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/bksubhuti/32/19_2.png) [@bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/bksubhuti)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499/2 "2024-10-19T02:12:35Z")

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You can support your parents as a monk. You can even give your alms food to your parents. You cannot do this with other family members. You can honor them by teaching them the dhamma and showing them your gratitude. You cannot bow down to them.

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**Author:** ![HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/67e7ee/32.png) [@HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/HappinessSeeker)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499/3 "2024-10-19T02:55:46Z")

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Thank you for answering, Venerable Sir. Can we still address our parents as “mom, mama, or dad”?

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**Author:** ![bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/bksubhuti/32/19_2.png) [@bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/bksubhuti)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-the-7-vows/1499/4 "2024-10-19T06:32:19Z")

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I do. “mom and dad”