3.
The Discourse on the Corner of the Double Robe
92.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"Even if, monks, a monk were to follow behind, holding the corner of the double robe, stepping foot upon foot, and yet he is covetous, with intense lust for sensual pleasures, with a corrupted mind, with evil mental intentions, unmindful, not fully aware, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, with uncontrolled faculties; then he is far from me, and I from him. What is the reason for this? For that monk, monks, does not see the Teaching. Not seeing the Teaching, he does not see me.
"Even if, monks, that monk were to dwell a hundred yojanas away. And yet he is non-covetous, without intense lust for sensual pleasures, with an uncorrupted mind, with non-evil mental intentions, mindful, fully aware, concentrated, with fully focused mind, with controlled faculties; then he is near to me, and I to him. What is the reason for this? For that monk, monks, sees the Teaching; seeing the Teaching, he sees me." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Following longing, of one without longing, of one quenched, unquenched;
He is greedy, of one free from greed, see how far away.
Like a lake in a windless place, without longing, he is appeased.
Without greed, of one free from greed, see how near."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The third.