The Long Āgama Sūtra 5.26

5.26

「時，彼眾中獨有一人作如是念：『家為大患，家為毒刺，我今寧可捨此居家，獨在山林，閑靜修道。』即捨居家，入於山林，寂默思惟，至時持器入村乞食，眾人見已，皆樂供養，歡喜稱讚：『善哉！此人能捨家居，獨處山林，靜默修道，捨離眾惡。』於是，世間始有婆羅門名生。彼婆羅門中有不樂閑靜坐禪思惟者，便入人間，誦習為業，又自稱言：『我是不禪人！』於是，世人稱不禪婆羅門。由入人間故，名為人間婆羅門，於是，世間有婆羅門種；彼眾生中有人好營居業，多積財寶，因是眾人名為居士；彼眾生中有多機巧，多所造作，於是世間始有首陀羅工巧之名。

“There then was a solitary man among the people who had this thought: ‘A family is such trouble. A family is a poison thorn. Now, I’d rather renounce this family life and live alone in the mountains and forests. In the quiet tranquility there, I’ll cultivate the path.’ So, he renounced the family life and went to the mountains and forests where he quietly contemplated. A time came when he took a bowl into a town to ask for food.

“When people saw him, they were happy to give him their support. They praised him joyfully: ‘Excellent! This person renounced family life and dwells alone in the mountains and forests where he quietly cultivates the path and abandons the myriad evils.’ This was the first time the title ‘priest’ arose in the world.

“Among those priests, there was one who wasn’t happy quietly sitting in meditation and contemplating, so he went among the people and chanted [scripture] as his profession. He also declared of himself, ‘I am not a meditator!’ This was when worldly people claimed to be non-meditating priests. As a result of being among people, they were called priests among people. This was when the worldly priest caste came to be.

“Among those sentient beings, there were people skilled at conducting business from a home and accumulated many treasures. As a result, these many people were called ‘householders.’ Among those sentient beings, some possessed many skills and could make many things. This was when the name ‘artisan’ first appeared in the world.