45.3 （三）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the World Honored One told the bhikṣus: "If a bhikṣu dwells in a village, the good dharmas will be destroyed and evil dharmas will increase. That bhikṣu should train thus: 'Now I dwell in a village, and evil dharmas increase while good dharmas diminish. My mindfulness is not concentrated, I do not exhaust the outflows, and I do not reach the place of peace and tranquility without outflows. The robes, food and drink, bedding and mats, and medicine for illness that I obtain are obtained with great difficulty.' That bhikṣu should train thus: 'Now I dwell in this village, and evil dharmas increase while good dharmas diminish. I also did not come to be a śramaṇa for the sake of robes, food and drink, bedding and mats, and medicine. The wish I sought is not yet fulfilled.' Moreover, that bhikṣu should leave the village far behind.

"If there is a bhikṣu who dwells near a village, and the wholesome dharmas increase while the unwholesome dharmas diminish, and he obtains robes, food, bedding, and medicine through diligent effort, that bhikṣu should train thus: 'Now I dwell near this village, and the wholesome dharmas increase while the unwholesome dharmas diminish. The requisites of offerings are obtained through diligent effort. I did not leave home to study the path and practice the holy life for the sake of robes. The path I study and the vow I seek will surely accomplish the Dharma. I should serve and make offerings to it for the rest of my life.'"

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

"Do not be attached to clothing, food and drink, beds, bedding, and dwelling places. Do not come to this world with such thoughts. Do not leave home to study the path because of clothing and bedding. The reason for studying the path is to surely fulfill one's wishes. The bhikṣu should immediately abide in that village for the rest of his life. He will attain parinirvāṇa there, at the root of his life."

"At that time, if the bhikṣu is wandering in a quiet place among the villages, the good dharmas increase and the evil dharmas naturally cease. The bhikṣu should stay in that village for the rest of his life and not wander far away."

At that time, Ānanda addressed the World-Honored One, saying, "The Tathāgata has always said that the four great elements depend on food for sustenance, and also depend on the mind and the Dharma to be contemplated. All wholesome dharmas arise in dependence on the mind. Moreover, those bhikṣus who reside in villages and towns, exhausting their mental energy in seeking clothing and food, how can they give rise to wholesome dharmas while residing in those villages and towns without wandering far?"

The Buddha told Ānanda: "There are three kinds of clothing, food, bedding, and medicine for the sick. If a bhikṣu single-mindedly attends to these four things but does not attain what he desires, this is suffering. If he is able to be content and not give rise to attachment, the devas and people will rejoice on his behalf. Moreover, bhikṣus should study this way. I speak this meaning because of this. Therefore, Ānanda, bhikṣus should be mindful of few desires and contentment."

Thus, Ānanda, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and upheld it.