Being content with what is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless when it comes to robes, alms food, lodging, and medicine is a key factor of the spiritual life.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, appāni ceva sulabhāni ca, tāni ca anavajjāni. Katamāni cattāri? Paṁsukūlaṁ, bhikkhave, cīvarānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Piṇḍiyālopo, bhikkhave, bhojanānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Rukkhamūlaṁ, bhikkhave, senāsanānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Pūtimuttaṁ, bhikkhave, bhesajjānaṁ appañca sulabhañca tañca anavajjaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri appāni ceva sulabhāni ca, tāni ca anavajjāni. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appena ca tuṭṭho hoti sulabhena ca anavajjena ca, idamassāhaṁ aññataraṁ sāmaññaṅganti vadāmī”ti.
“Bhikkhus, these four things are trifling, easily obtained, and |blameless::irreproachable, faultless [anavajja]|. What four? 1) A robe made from discarded rags, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 2) Lumps of alms food, bhikkhus, are trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 3) Lodging at the foot of a tree, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 4) Fermented urine as medicine, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. Bhikkhus, these four things are trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. When a bhikkhu is |content with::pleased with, satisfied with [tuṭṭha]| what is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless, I say that he has a key factor of the |spiritual life::ascetic life, monkhood [sāmañña]|.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Anavajjena tuṭṭhassa,
appena sulabhena ca;
Na senāsanamārabbha,
cīvaraṁ pānabhojanaṁ;
Vighāto hoti cittassa,
disā nappaṭihaññati.
“For one content with what is blameless,
with little that is easily obtained;
With regard to lodging,
robes, drink, and food —
there is no |vexation::affliction, irritation [vighāta]| for the mind,
[they are] not obstructed anywhere.
Ye cassa dhammā akkhātā,
sāmaññassānulomikā;
Adhiggahitā tuṭṭhassa,
appamattassa bhikkhuno”ti.
These qualities are said to be,
suitable for the spiritual life;
They are excelled in by a contented,
and |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| bhikkhu.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, these four things are trifling, easily obtained, and |blameless::irreproachable, faultless [anavajja]|. What four? 1) A robe made from discarded rags, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 2) Lumps of alms food, bhikkhus, are trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 3) Lodging at the foot of a tree, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. 4) Fermented urine as medicine, bhikkhus, is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. Bhikkhus, these four things are trifling, easily obtained, and blameless. When a bhikkhu is |content with::pleased with, satisfied with [tuṭṭha]| what is trifling, easily obtained, and blameless, I say that he has a key factor of the |spiritual life::ascetic life, monkhood [sāmañña]|.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“For one content with what is blameless,
with little that is easily obtained;
With regard to lodging,
robes, drink, and food —
there is no |vexation::affliction, irritation [vighāta]| for the mind,
[they are] not obstructed anywhere.
These qualities are said to be,
suitable for the spiritual life;
They are excelled in by a contented,
and |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| bhikkhu.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, appāni ceva sulabhāni ca, tāni ca anavajjāni. Katamāni cattāri? Paṁsukūlaṁ, bhikkhave, cīvarānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Piṇḍiyālopo, bhikkhave, bhojanānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Rukkhamūlaṁ, bhikkhave, senāsanānaṁ appañca sulabhañca, tañca anavajjaṁ. Pūtimuttaṁ, bhikkhave, bhesajjānaṁ appañca sulabhañca tañca anavajjaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri appāni ceva sulabhāni ca, tāni ca anavajjāni. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appena ca tuṭṭho hoti sulabhena ca anavajjena ca, idamassāhaṁ aññataraṁ sāmaññaṅganti vadāmī”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Anavajjena tuṭṭhassa,
appena sulabhena ca;
Na senāsanamārabbha,
cīvaraṁ pānabhojanaṁ;
Vighāto hoti cittassa,
disā nappaṭihaññati.
Ye cassa dhammā akkhātā,
sāmaññassānulomikā;
Adhiggahitā tuṭṭhassa,
appamattassa bhikkhuno”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.