4.
The Discourse on the Delicate Ascetic
104.
"Monks, a monk possessed of five qualities is a delicate ascetic among ascetics.
"Which five? Here, monks, a monk mostly uses robes that are requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses almsfood that is requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses lodging that is requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses requisites of medicines for the sick that are requested, little that is unrequested. Those fellows in the holy life with whom he dwells, they mostly behave towards him with agreeable bodily action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable verbal action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable mental action, little with disagreeable; they offer him agreeable offerings, little that is disagreeable. Whatever feelings there are - those originating from bile, or those originating from phlegm, or those originating from wind, or those resulting from the combination of humours, or those born of change of season, or those born of irregular care, or those caused by assault, or those born of the result of action - those do not arise much for him. He is free from illness, he is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life; with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, he dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions. Monks, a monk possessed of these five qualities is a delicate ascetic among ascetics.
"If anyone, monks, speaking rightly would say - 'the delicate ascetic among ascetics', it is of me indeed, monks, that one speaking rightly would say - 'the delicate ascetic among ascetics'. For I, monks, mostly use robes that are requested, little that is unrequested; I mostly use almsfood that is requested, little that is unrequested; I mostly use lodging that is requested, little that is unrequested; I mostly use requisites of medicines for the sick that are requested, little that is unrequested. Those monks with whom I dwell, they mostly behave towards me with agreeable bodily action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable verbal action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable mental action, little with disagreeable; they offer him agreeable offerings, little that is disagreeable. Whatever feelings there are - those originating from bile, or those originating from phlegm, or those originating from wind, or those resulting from the combination of humours, or those born of change of season, or those born of irregular care, or those caused by assault, or those born of the result of action - those do not arise much for me. I am free from illness, I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life; with the elimination of the mental corruptions, etc. having realised, having attained, I dwell.
"If anyone, monks, speaking rightly would say - 'the delicate ascetic among ascetics', it is of me indeed, monks, that one speaking rightly would say - 'the delicate ascetic among ascetics'." The fourth.