10.
The Discourse on Maṇicūḷaka
362.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time in the royal inner palace, when the royal assembly was seated together assembled, this discussion arose -
"It is allowable for the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, to accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, consent to gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, accept gold and silver!"
Now at that time the headman Maṇicūḷaka was seated in that assembly. Then the headman Maṇicūḷaka said this to that assembly - "Do not speak thus, sirs. It is not allowable for the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, to accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not consent to gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, have laid aside jewels and gold, are without gold and silver." The headman Maṇicūḷaka was able to convince that assembly. Then the headman Maṇicūḷaka approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the headman Maṇicūḷaka said this to the Blessed One - "Here, venerable sir, in the royal inner palace, when the royal assembly was seated together assembled, this discussion arose - 'It is allowable for the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, to accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, consent to gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, accept gold and silver.' When this was said, I, venerable sir, said this to that assembly - 'Do not speak thus, sirs. It is not allowable for the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, to accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not consent to gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, have laid aside jewels and gold, are without gold and silver.' I was able, venerable sir, to convince that assembly. Am I, venerable sir, thus answering, one who speaks what has been said by the Blessed One, and do I not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is untrue, and do I explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and does no reasonable counter-argument come to a blameworthy position?"
"Truly you, headman, thus answering, are one who speaks what has been said by me, and you do not misrepresent me with what is untrue, and you explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and no reasonable counter-argument comes to a blameworthy position. For indeed, headman, it is not allowable for the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, to accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not consent to gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, do not accept gold and silver, the ascetics, disciples of the Sakyan, have laid aside jewels and gold, are without gold and silver. For whom, headman, gold and silver is allowable, for him the five kinds of sensual pleasure are also allowable. For whom the five kinds of sensual pleasure are allowable, this, headman, you should definitely remember as not the practice of an ascetic, not the practice of a disciple of the Sakyan. And further, headman, I say thus - grass should be sought by one needing grass, wood should be sought by one needing wood, a cart should be sought by one needing a cart, a man should be sought by one needing a man. But I do not say, headman, that by any method gold and silver should be consented to or sought." The tenth.