I was only seven years old and had just gone forth when I overcame the mighty serpent king with my psychic powers.
I brought water for my mentor from the great lake Anotatta. When he saw me, my teacher declared:
“Sāriputta, see this young boy coming, carrying a water pot, serene inside himself.
His conduct inspires confidence, he is of lovely deportment: he is Anuruddha’s novice, self-assured in psychic powers.
Made a thoroughbred by a thoroughbred, made good by the good, educated and trained by Anuruddha, who has completed his task.
Having attained ultimate peace and witnessed the unshakable, that novice Sumana has the wish: ‘May no one find me out!’”
Verses of the Senior Monks 6.11 The Book of the Sixes Chapter One Nhātakamuni
“Struck by a wind ailment while dwelling in a forest grove, you’ve entered a tough resort for gathering alms—how will you get by, monk?”
“Pervading this bag of bones with abundant rapture and happiness, putting up with what’s tough, I’ll dwell in the forest.
Developing the seven awakening factors, the faculties and the powers, endowed with subtle absorptions, I’ll dwell without defilements.