1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, this Kassapa is content with any kind of robe, and he speaks in praise of contentment with any kind of robe, and he does not engage in a wrong search, in what is improper, for the sake of a robe. [n.266] Spk discusses a threefold typology of contentment (santosa): (i) contentment that accords with one's gains (yathālābhasantosa), i.e., remaining content with any gains, whether fine or coarse; (ii) contentment that accords with one's ability (yathābālāsantosa), i.e., remaining content with whatever one needs to sustain one's health; and (iii) contentment that accords with suitability (yathāsāruppasantosa), i.e., disposing of any luxury items received and retaining only the simplest and most basic requisites. A translation of the full passage—from the parallel commentary to the Samaññaphala Sutta (Sv I 206–8)—may be found in Bodhi, Discourse on the Fruits of Recluseship, pp. 134–37. Various types of wrong search (anesanā) are discussed at Vism 22–30 (Ppn 1:60–84). If he does not get a robe he is not agitated, and if he gets one he uses it without being tied to it, uninfatuated with it, not blindly absorbed in it, seeing the danger in it, understanding the escape. [n.267] Spk: If he does not get a robe: If he does not get a robe he does not become agitated (na paritassati) like one who, failing to get a robe, becomes frightened and agitated and associates with meritorious bhikkhus, thinking "How can I get a robe?" Seeing the danger (ādīnavadassāvī): the danger of an offence in improper search and of use while being tied to it. Understanding the escape (nissaraṇapañña): he uses it knowing the escape stated in the formula, "Only for warding off cold," etc. (On the formulas for the four requisites, see MN I 10,4–20, with detailed analysis at Vism 30–35; Ppn 1:85–97) This passage (and the parallels in regard to the other requisites excluding medicines) is found in the Ariyavaṁsa Sutta in a description of the ideal ascetic monk (AN II 27–29).

2–4"Bhikkhus, this Kassapa is content with any kind of almsfood … with any kind of lodging … with any kind of medicinal requisites … and if he gets them he uses them without being tied to them, uninfatuated with them, not blindly absorbed in them, seeing the danger in them, understanding the escape.

5"Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will be content with any kind of robe, and we will speak in praise of contentment with any kind of robe, sn.ii.195 and we will not engage in a wrong search, in what is improper, for the sake of a robe. If we do not get a robe we will not be agitated, and if we get one we will use it without being tied to it, uninfatuated with it, not blindly absorbed in it, seeing the danger in it, understanding the escape.

6"‘We will be content with any kind of almsfood … with any kind of lodging … with any kind of medicinal requisites … and if we get them we will use them without being tied to them, uninfatuated with them, not blindly absorbed in them, seeing the danger in them, understanding the escape.’ Thus should you train yourselves.

"Bhikkhus, I will exhort you by the example of Kassapa or one who is similar to Kassapa. [n.268] Kassapena vā hi vo bhikkhave ovadissami yo vā pan’ assa Kassapasadiso. Spk makes it clear that yo … Kassapasadiso should be construed as instrumental in force, parallel to Kassapena: "He exhorts by the example of Kassapa when he says, ‘As the Elder Mahākassapa is content with the four requisites, so too should you be.’ He exhorts by one who is similar to Kassapa when he says, ‘If there should be anyone else here who is similar to Kassapa—that is, like the Elder Mahākassapa—in being content with the four requisites, you should be so too.’" Being exhorted, you should practise accordingly." [n.269] Tathattaya paṭipajjitabbaṁ. Spk: (He says:) "‘In this sutta on contentment the Perfectly Enlightened One's responsibility (bhāra) is explaining the practice of effacement (sallekhacāra), while our responsibility is to fulfil it by the fulfilment of the practice. Let us accept the responsibility entrusted to us’—having reflected thus, you should practise accordingly, as explained by me."

1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati. "Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī; na ca cīvarahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

2Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī; na ca piṇḍapātahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

3Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī; na ca senāsanahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca senāsanaṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca senāsanaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

4Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, itarītaragilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī; na ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

5Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca cīvarahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma; aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na ca paritassissāma; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāma’. (Evaṁ sabbaṁ kātabbaṁ.)

6‘Santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena piṇḍapātena … pe … santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena senāsanena … pe … santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, itarītaragilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu anesanāṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma aladdhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ na paritassissāma; laddhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāmā’ti.

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ. Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban"ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.