You should understand your own goal, and consider the dispensation carefully, as well as what’s appropriate for one who has entered the ascetic life.
Good friendship in the community, undertaking plenty of training, eagerness to learn from the teachers—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Respect for the Buddha, reverence for the Dhamma as it really is, esteem for the Saṅgha—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Commitment to good conduct and alms-resort, a livelihood that is pure and blameless, and stilling the mind—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
An impressive deportment in things that should be done, and in those better avoided; commitment to the higher mind—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Wilderness lodgings, remote and quiet, fit for use by a sage—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Ethics, learning, investigation of teachings in line with the truth, and penetration of the truths—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Developing the perceptions of impermanence, non-self, and unattractiveness, and dissatisfaction with the whole world—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Developing the awakening factors, the bases for psychic power, the faculties and powers, and the noble eightfold path—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
A sage should abandon craving, defilements shattered, root and all, they should live liberated—this is appropriate for an ascetic.
Another Gotama
Thag 10.7 · (Apara) Gotamattheragāthā
Connections
Collection & context
- TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Teachings named in the text
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.