Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

“‘Samana’ you say when falling asleep, ‘Samana’ you say when waking up.

You’re praising only the Samanas. Surely you will be a Samana.

So much food and drink you bestow on Samanas.

Now Rohini I ask you: ‘Why the Samanas are so dear to you’?

They are lazy, not dutiful and living on what is given by others.

Full of expectations, wishing sweet things: ‘Why are Samanas so dear to you’?”

“Truly for a long time you have been questioning me about Samanas.

Now I shall praise their wisdom, their moral conduct and their efforts.

They desire to perform their work, are assiduous, doers of the highest work,

Dispelling craving and aversion: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Doers of the pure deeds, they shake away and cut the three roots of evil.

All the evil falls away from them: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Their actions are pure, pure as well their speech,

Pure also are their mental activities: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

They are of ample learning, upholders of Dhamma and living the holy life in accordance to Dhamma.

They teach Dhamma along with its meaning: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

They are of ample learning, upholders of the Dhamma living the holy life in accordance to Dhamma.

Their concentrated minds are full of awareness: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Wandering far they uphold awareness, they speak in moderation, without any agitation,

They comprehend properly the end of suffering: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Wandering through villages, they do not look around at anything,

Without yearning do they wander: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

They do not store up belongings in a depository, nor in a pot, not in a basket,

Accepting what is prepared: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

They do not accept a billion, neither gold nor silver,

Living in the present moment: ‘That is why they are dear to me!’

From different families they have renounced the world and come from different places,

They love and respect each other in highest esteem:

That is why they are dear to me!” …

^*Rohinītherīgāthā: rohinī + therī + gāthā — Rohinī + Therī + (female elderly nun) + verse, stanza