In the end it was the emperor who had to make the journey in order to pay respects to the monk.

The image of a practitioner living a simple life, with only a staff and bowl, can awaken people who are immersed in or obsessed with power or material wealth. If the image of a simple existence can penetrate the thick crust of their complex lives, they may realize that what they have is temporary. They may choose to transform their outlook and emulate the pure simplicity of the monk's or practitioner's lifestyle.

A person who has left home to become a monk or nun can be above or below an emperor. People in the Orient who understand this pay their highest respect to left-home practitioners. In any gathering, members of the Sangha are offered the most prominent seats. The tradition continues even now. Generally, people realize that monks and nuns, in having no position, in fact have the highest position.

This tradition comes from India, because Indians have great respect for renunciants, Brahmins and practitioners. In China, the respect paid to monks and nuns has varied with the country's view toward Buddhism. Depending on the rulers in power, the Sangha was either highly respected or treated like dirt. Those who do not believe in Buddhism will not respect Buddhist monks and nuns, whereas those who accept Buddhadharma will have great respect for them.