This bag of bones once was such, but now it’s withered, home to so much pain; like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.2 The Book of the Twenties Rohinī
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You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’; you woke up saying ‘ascetics’; you only praise ascetics, madam—surely you’ll become an ascetic.
You provide ascetics with abundant food and drink. I ask you now, Rohiṇī: why do you like ascetics?
They don’t like to work, they’re lazy, they live on charity; always on the lookout, greedy for sweets—so why do you like ascetics?”
“Dad, for a long time now you’ve questioned me about ascetics. I shall extol for you their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.
They like to work, they’re not lazy; by giving up greed and hate, they do the best kind of work—that’s why I like ascetics.
As for the three roots of evil, by pure deeds they shake them off. They have given up all wickedness—that’s why I like ascetics.
Their bodily actions are pure; their actions of speech likewise; their actions of mind are pure—that’s why I like ascetics.
Immaculate as a conch-shell, they’re pure inside and out, full of bright qualities—that’s why I like ascetics.
They’re learned and memorize the teaching, noble, living righteously, teaching the text and its meaning: that’s why I like ascetics.