The Long Āgama Sūtra 22.47

22.47

爾時，世尊告婆羅門曰：「若如來出現於世，應供、正遍知、明行成、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，於諸天、世人、沙門、婆羅門中，自身作證，為他人說，上中下言，皆悉真正，義味具足，梵行清淨。若長者、長者子聞此法者，信心清淨；信心清淨已，作如是觀：『在家為難，譬如桎梏；欲修梵行，不得自在。今我寧可剃除鬚髮，服三法衣，出家修道。』彼於異時捨家財業，棄捐親族，服三法衣，去諸飾好，諷誦毘尼，具足戒律，捨殺不殺，——乃至心法四禪現得歡樂。所以者何？斯由精勤，專念不忘，樂獨閑居之所得也。婆羅門！是為具戒。」

The Bhagavān then told Śroṇatāṇḍya, “Suppose a Tathāgata appears in the world who’s Worthy of Alms, Completely Awakened, Accomplished in Insight and Conduct, Well Gone, Understands the World, an Unsurpassed Man, Trainer of Men, Teacher to Gods and Humans, a Buddha, and a Bhagavān. Among gods, worldly people, ascetics, and priests, he’s self-realized, and he teaches for others. His words are all genuine in the beginning, middle, and end, complete in content and expression, and purify the religious life.

“Suppose prominent people or the children of prominent people hear this teaching. Once their belief is pure, they thus observe: ‘The household life is difficult; it’s like being in handcuffs and bond. I’d like to cultivate the religious life, but I can’t free myself from it. I’d rather cut off my hair, put on the three Dharma robes, leave home, and cultivate the path.’

“At some different time, they renounce their home, property, and occupation, part with family and friends, put on the three Dharma robes, and leave ornaments behind. They recite the Vinaya and perfect the discipline of precepts. They renounce killing and don’t kill beings … and so forth up to … He attains the rapture of the four dhyānas in the present life. Why is that? These things are a result of diligence, focused attention that’s not lost, and attainment of a pleasant and solitary dwelling. Priest, this is perfecting the precepts.”