Itivuttaka 101

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Itivuttaka >> '''101. Sulabhasuttam'''

Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

101. Sulabhasuttam (Easily Available)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, these four things are next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless. Which four? Cast-off cloth is next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless. Alms food is next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless. The root of a tree as a dwelling place is next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless. Medicine made of putrid urine[1] is next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless.

These are the four things that are next to nothing, both easy to gain & blameless. When a monk is content with what is next to nothing, easy to gain & blameless, then I say that he has one of the component factors of the hermit's life.”

Content with what’s blameless, next to nothing, easy to gain, his mind not vexed over lodging, clothing, food, or drink: the four directions offer him no obstruction. These things, declared congenial for the hermit's life, are possessed by the monk alert, content.

NOTE: 1. This is one of a monk’s basic requisites. There is some disagreement as to whether it refers to medicine pickled in urine, or to the use of urine as a medicine (as is still practiced in parts of Asia today). This itivuttaka is identical with AN 4:27.