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From Buddha-to-be to Teacher in the Buddha’s own Words

A translation of sections from four discourses in the Majjhimanikāya in which the Buddha relates his experiences in struggling to attain Awakening, and whether to teach afterwards

A translation of sections from four discourses in the Majjhimanikāya in which the Buddha relates his experiences in struggling to attain Awakening, and whether to teach afterwards

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Austere Striv<strong>in</strong>g - 20<br />

7. More extreme Austerities 15<br />

I was aware of liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> spiritual life endowed with four fac<strong>to</strong>rs:<br />

I was one who lived austere, supremely austere,<br />

I was one who lived rough, supremely rough,<br />

I was one who lived avoid<strong>in</strong>g, supremely avoid<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

I was one who lived secluded, supremely secluded.<br />

This was my austerity <strong>the</strong>re:<br />

I was without clo<strong>the</strong>s, liv<strong>in</strong>g freely, lick<strong>in</strong>g my hands, not one who<br />

came when called, not one who s<strong>to</strong>pped when called, I did not take<br />

food offered, nor alloted, nor when <strong>in</strong>vited.<br />

I did not accept from <strong>the</strong> rim of a pot,<br />

I did not accept from <strong>the</strong> rim of a bowl,<br />

not across a threshold,<br />

not across a stick,<br />

not across a pestle,<br />

not from where two were eat<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

not from one pregnant,<br />

not from one feed<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> breast,<br />

not from a woman <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> midst of men,<br />

not <strong>in</strong> a place advertised,<br />

not from where it was made ready,<br />

not from where flies were swarm<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

I did not accept fish nor meat,<br />

I did not dr<strong>in</strong>k liquor, nor w<strong>in</strong>e, not fermented dr<strong>in</strong>ks.<br />

I had but one house, or one morsel,<br />

I had but two houses, or two morsels,<br />

I had but three houses, or three morsels,<br />

I had but four houses, or four morsels,<br />

I had but five houses, or five morsels,<br />

15 MN 12.

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