Dhammapada 3.3.p3

3.3.p3

Atha naṃ daharasāmaṇerā, ‘‘āvuso, kiṃ tvaṃ ṭhitaṭṭhāne ṭhitova nisinnaṭṭhāne nisinnova ahosi, paṇḍurogābhibhūto kiso lūkho dhamanisanthatagatto ālassiyābhibhūto kacchuparikiṇṇo, kiṃ te kata’’nti pucchiṃsu. ‘‘Ukkaṇṭhitomhi, āvuso’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’’ti? So taṃ pavattiṃ ārocesi. Te tassa ācariyupajjhāyānaṃ ācikkhiṃsu. Ācariyupajjhāyā taṃ ādāya satthu santikaṃ agamaṃsu. Satthā ‘‘kiṃ, bhikkhave, āgatatthā’’ti āha. ‘‘Bhante, ayaṃ bhikkhu tumhākaṃ sāsane ukkaṇṭhito’’ti. ‘‘Evaṃ kira bhikkhū’’ti. ‘‘Āma, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’’ti? ‘‘Ahaṃ, bhante, dukkhā muccitukāmova pabbajito, tassa me ācariyo abhidhammakathaṃ kathesi, upajjhāyo vinayakathaṃ kathesi, svāhaṃ ‘idha me hatthapasāraṇaṭṭhānampi natthi, gihinā hutvā sakkā dukkhā muccituṃ, gihi bhavissāmī’ti sanniṭṭhānamakāsiṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Sace tvaṃ, bhikkhu, ekameva rakkhituṃ sakkhissasi, avasesānaṃ rakkhanakiccaṃ natthī’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ, bhante’’ti? ‘‘Tava cittameva rakkhituṃ sakkhissasī’’ti. ‘‘Sakkhissāmi, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi attano cittameva rakkhāhi, sakkā dukkhā muccitu’’nti imaṃ ovādaṃ datvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

Said the Teacher, "Monks, why have you come?" "Reverend Sir, this monk is dissatisfied in your Religion." "Monk, is what they say true?" "Yes, Reverend Sir." "Why are you dissatisfied?" "Reverend Sir, I became a monk in order to obtain Release from Suffering. My teacher has recited passages from the Abhidhamma, and my preceptor has recited passages from the Vinaya. Reverend Sir, I have come to the following conclusion, 'Here there is not even room for me to stretch out my hands. It is possible for me to obtain Release from Suffering as a householder. I will therefore become a householder.'" "Monk, if you can guard one thing, it will not be necessary for you to guard the rest." "What is that, Reverend Sir?" "Can you guard your thoughts?" "I can, Reverend Sir." "Well then, guard your thoughts alone." Having given this admonition, the Teacher pronounced the following Stanza,