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HIS SERMONS
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future bliss, no rinsing, burnt-offering, rites; can cleanse the man who doubts,
“Control thy sense, rule thy powers, hold to Truth, be kind. The saint who leaves all ties and vanquishes all ills, is stained by naught he either sees or hears.”
Hearing the Lord preach these lofty, saving truths, denouncing ‘carrion’, and sweeping ills away, the Brahmin meekly knelt and asked to be enrolled as Almsman then and there.
§ 5. Not Food But Evil Actions That Matter
A Brahmin by name Amagandha was an ascetic who lived in the region of Himalayas with his pupils.
They ate neither fish nor flesh. Every year they came down from their hermitage in search of salt and acids. The inhabitants of the village received them with honour and gave them hospitality for four months.
Then the Blessed Lord with his monks visited the same village. The people on hearing the Lord preach his Dhamma became his followers.
That year even Amagandha and his disciples as usual went to the villagers but the villagers did not show the same enthusiasm.
Amagandha was disappointed to hear that the Lord did not forbid eating fish and flesh. Wishing to have the matter confirmed he went to Jeta Vana at Shravasti where the Blessed Lord was then staying and said :
“Millet, cingula-beans and peas, edible leaves and roots, the fruit of any creeper ; the righteous who eat these, obtained justly, do not tell lies for the sake of pleasures.
“ Thou eatest whatever food is given by others, which is well prepared, nicely got up, pure and excellent. He who enjoys such food made of rice, he eats, Amagandha. You say that the charge of
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