The Bhikkhu—The Buddha’s Conception of him. - Page 446

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THE BHIKKHU-THE BUDDHA’S CONCEPTION OF HIM

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cannot fall away (from his perfect state)—he is close upon Nibbana.”

  1. The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha.

  2. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church.

  3. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the Dhamma.

  4. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body.

  5. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their minds day and night always delight in compassion.

  6. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their minds day and night always delight in meditation.

  7. It is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world; hard is the monastery, painful are the houses; painful it is to dwell with equals (to share everything in common), and the itinerant mendicant is beset with pain.

  8. A man full of faith, if endowed with virtue and glory, is respected, whatever place he may choose.

§ 2. The Bhikkhu and the Ascetic

  1. Is the Bhikkhu an ascetic? The answer is in the negative.

  2. This negative answer has been given by the Blessed Lord himself in a discussion with Nigrodha the wanderer.

  3. The Exalted One was once staying near Rajagraha, on the Vulture’s Peak. Now at that time there was sojourning in Queen Udumbarika’s Park assigned to the wanderers, the wanderer Nigrodha, together with a great company of wanderers.

  4. Now the Exalted One descending from the

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