The Word of the Buddha Confidence and Right Thought

¶ 30A householder or householder’s son or someone born into a certain family hears the Dhamma. On hearing the Dhamma, he acquires faith in the Tathāgata. Endowed with that faith, he reflects thus: ‘The household life is confined, a dusty path; life gone forth is wide open. While dwelling in a house, it is not easy to live the spiritual life completely perfect and pure as a polished shell. Suppose I shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness.’ Then, at a later time, having given up a small or large fortune, having left behind a small or large circle of relatives, he shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robes, and goes forth from the household life into homelessness.