A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.35

v2.c19.s2.35

Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, convened a meeting of the Bhikkhu-saṃgha, and asked the Bhikkhus, 'Is there, O Bhikkhus, in such and such an apartment, a Bhikkhu who is sick?' 'There is, Lord.' 'Then what, O Bhikkhus, is the matter with that Bhikkhu?' 'He has a disturbance, Lord, in his bowels.' 'And is there any one, O Bhikkhus, to wait upon him?' 'No, Lord.' 'Why, then, do not the Bhikkhus wait upon him?' 'That Bhikkhu, Lord, is of no service to the Bhikkhus; therefore do they not wait upon him.' 'Ye, O Bhikkhus, have no mothers and no fathers who might wait upon you! If ye, O Bhikkhus, wait not one upon the other, who is there indeed who will wait upon you? Whosoever, O Bhikkhus, would wait upon me, he should wait upon the sick.'¹