5.
Discourse on Being Old
148.
Thus have I heard... etc.
at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove.
Then the Venerable Mahākassapa approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To the Venerable Mahākassapa seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"You are now old, Kassapa, and these hempen rag-robes of yours, these cast-off garments, are heavy.
Therefore, Kassapa, wear robes given by householders, accept invitations to meals, and dwell near me."
"I, venerable sir, have for a long time been a forest-dweller and speak in praise of being a forest-dweller, an almsfood eater and speak in praise of being an almsfood eater, a wearer of rag-robes and speak in praise of being a wearer of rag-robes, a three-robe wearer and speak in praise of being a three-robe wearer, of few wishes and speak in praise of fewness of wishes, content and speak in praise of contentment, secluded and speak in praise of solitude, aloof from society and speak in praise of aloofness from society, putting forth strenuous energy and speak in praise of arousal of energy."
"But what reason do you, Kassapa, see that you have for a long time been a forest-dweller and speak in praise of being a forest-dweller, an almsfood eater and... etc. a wearer of rag-robes and... a three-robe wearer and... of few wishes and... content and... secluded and... aloof from society and... putting forth strenuous energy and speak in praise of arousal of energy?"
"Seeing two reasons, venerable sir, I have for a long time been a forest-dweller and speak in praise of being a forest-dweller, an almsfood eater and... etc. a wearer of rag-robes and... a three-robe wearer and... of few wishes and... content and... secluded and... aloof from society and... putting forth strenuous energy and speak in praise of arousal of energy. Seeing my own pleasant abiding in the present life, and having compassion for future generations - 'Perhaps future generations might follow the example of what they have seen.' 'Those who were disciples who awakened following the Buddha, they for a long time were forest-dwellers and spoke in praise of being forest-dwellers... etc. they were almsfood eaters and... etc. they were wearers of rag-robes and... they were three-robe wearers and... they were of few wishes and... they were content and... they were secluded and... they were aloof from society and... they were putting forth strenuous energy and spoke in praise of arousal of energy.' They will proceed towards that state, and that will be for their welfare and happiness for a long time.
"Seeing these two reasons, venerable sir, I have for a long time been a forest-dweller and speak in praise of being a forest-dweller, an almsfood eater and etc. a wearer of rag-robes and... a three-robe wearer and... of few wishes and... content and... secluded and... aloof from society and... putting forth strenuous energy and speak in praise of arousal of energy."
"Good, good, Kassapa. Indeed you, Kassapa, have practised for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. Therefore, Kassapa, wear hempen rag-robes, cast-off cloth, walk for almsfood, and dwell in the forest." The fifth.