SA-2 116（一一六）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, Venerable Mahākāśyapa was staying at the Vimalasāravati Hall in the old garden. Then, at sunset, Mahākāśyapa arose from his meditation, went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. At that time, the World-Honored One said to Kāśyapa, "You are now old and aged, and your years are declining. Wearing this coarse hempen robe, it is thick and dirty. You should now return to the Sangha, eat the Sangha's food, and wear the robes given by the donors, cutting and dyeing them to wear."

Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! This coarse hempen robe I have worn for a long time, and I also praise those who wear coarse hempen robes. How can I give it up?"

The Buddha told Kāśyapa, "You see those who wear coarse hempen robes. What meaning and benefit do they have? You have long worn them yourself, practiced the ascetic practices, and praised those who practice the ascetic practices. You yourself beg for food and praise those who beg for food."

Kāśyapa said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I see two kinds of benefits for those who wear coarse hempen robes: they dwell in peace and happiness in the present world; in the future world, they will be a light for the bhikṣus, and will be studied by people of the future. People of the future will give rise to this thought: 'In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, the great virtuous bhikṣus practiced the Brahma way for a long time, delighted in the Buddha's teachings, deeply understood the Dharma methods, had few desires and were content. They themselves practiced the ascetic practices and praised those who practiced the ascetic practices. They wore rag robes and praised those who wore rag robes. They next begged for food and praised those who begged for food.' People of the future will give rise to this mind, longing for this Dharma, to be their refuge and bring them benefit and happiness."

The Buddha praised Kāśyapa, "Excellent! Excellent! If you are like this, you will have compassion for the world for a long time, benefiting many, and will be a refuge, bringing benefit and happiness. If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who disparage the ascetic practices, they will be disparaging me. If there are those who praise the merits of the ascetic practices, they will be praising me. Why is this? I have praised the merits obtained from the ascetic practices with various causes and conditions, with countless skillful means, and established the ascetic practices, praising the ascetic practices as supreme among all practices. From today onward, you should always practice the ascetic practices yourself and praise those who are able to practice the ascetic practices."

At that time, Mahākāśyapa and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.