Buddhist monks

O monks, it is the lowest living which one holding a cup asks for food from other people. That, we the monks ask for alm by holding a cup, is not due to dangers of king, not because of destruction by thief, robbers, not because we cannot repay others' debt, not because we get communicable disease, not because it is hard to make a living. In fact, we enter the Sangha world with the hope of release from dangers such as reincarnation, aging, death, grieve, misery, etc. If someone who becomes a monk but he has the mind like ordinary people i.e. full of anger, greed, doubt, restlessness of mind, sensual desire, that man not only loses the worldly possession but also that of being a monk. Buddha





"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to consuming stored-up goods such as these ?stored-up food, stored-up drinks, stored-up clothing, stored-up vehicles, stored-up bedding, stored-up scents, and stored-up meat ?he abstains from consuming stored-up goods such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue.

"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to watching shows such as these ?dancing, singing, instrumental music, plays, ballad recitations, hand-clapping, cymbals and drums, magic lantern scenes, acrobatic and conjuring tricks, elephant fights, horse fights, buffalo fights, bull fights, goat fights, ram fights, cock fights, quail fights; fighting with staves, boxing, wrestling, war-games, roll calls, battle arrays, and regimental reviews ?he abstains from watching shows such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue.



"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to high and luxurious furnishings such as these ?over-sized couches, couches adorned with carved animals, long-haired coverlets, multi-colored patchwork coverlets, white woolen coverlets, woolen coverlets embroidered with flowers or animal figures, stuffed quilts, coverlets with fringe, silk coverlets embroidered with gems; large woolen carpets; elephant, horse, and chariot rugs, antelope-hide rugs, deer-hide rugs; couches with awnings, couches with red cushions for the head and feet ?he abstains from using high and luxurious furnishings such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue.



"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to talking about lowly topics such as these ?talking about kings, robbers, ministers of state; armies, alarms, and battles; food and drink; clothing, furniture, garlands, and scents; relatives; vehicles; villages, towns, cities, the countryside; women and heroes; the gossip of the street and the well; tales of the dead; tales of diversity [philosophical discussions of the past and future], the creation of the world and of the sea, and talk of whether things exist or not ?he abstains from talking about lowly topics such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue.



"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to running messages and errands for people such as these ?kings, ministers of state, noble warriors, priests, householders, or youths [who say], 'Go here, go there, take this there, fetch that here' ?he abstains from running messages and errands for people such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue.



"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, maintain themselves by wrong livelihood, by such lowly arts as: determining lucky and unlucky gems, garments, staffs, swords, spears, arrows, bows, and other weapons; women, boys, girls, male slaves, female slaves; elephants, horses, buffaloes, bulls, cows, goats, rams, fowl, quails, lizards, long-eared rodents, tortoises, and other animals ?he abstains from wrong livelihood, from lowly arts such as these.



"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, maintain themselves by wrong livelihood, by such lowly arts as forecasting: the rulers will march forth; the rulers will march forth and return; our rulers will attack, and their rulers will retreat; their rulers will attack, and our rulers will retreat; there will be triumph for our rulers and defeat for their rulers; there will be triumph for their rulers and defeat for our rulers; thus there will be triumph, thus there will be defeat ?he abstains from wrong livelihood, from lowly arts such as these.





Excerpt from DN 2, Samaññaphala Sutta, The Fruits of the Contemplative Life

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu