"The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced well... who have practiced straight-forwardly... who have practiced methodically... who have practiced masterfully — in other words, the four types [of noble disciples] when taken as pairs, the eight when taken as individual types — they are the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples: worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect, the incomparable field of merit for the world."

The word Sangha in Pali means the Order or Community of Bhikkhus (monks) and Bhikkhunis (nuns). Though the Buddha did not leave any written teachings when he entered into Mahaparinibbana, his disciples (the venerable Sangha) tried to memorise all the Buddha’s teachings by reciting them daily. They recited all the teachings of the Lord Buddha from generation to generation until the Sangha committed all the teachings into writing. Had the venerable Sangha not taken care of the teachings, all the teachings would probably have disappeared by now.

So the venerable Sangha established by the Lord Buddha is indeed worthy of being paid homage to for their good deeds: learning the Doctrine (pariyatti), practising the Dhamma (patipatti), and realising its goal (pativedha).

 "Who with strong mind, practising themselves thoroughly in the Dispensation of Buddha, they have attained the highest state, having encountered the immortality, they enjoy the perfect peace (Nibbana) in absolute freedom.  In the Sangha is this precious jewel (holiness) found, so by this truth, May all being be happy."

  Ratana Suka