[172] Bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, who has lived out the holy life (brahmacariya), done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained his own true goal, utterly destroyed the fetters of existence, and is rightly liberated through final knowledge, this is the answer that accords with the Dhamma:
'Formerly, friends, when I was living the household life, I was ignorant. Then the Tathāgata, or a disciple of the Tathāgata, taught me the Dhamma. Having heard that Dhamma, I gained faith in the Tathāgata. Possessing that faith which I had gained, I reflected thus: "The household life is crowded, a path of dust; the going forth is the open air. It is not easy, while dwelling in a house, to live the holy life utterly perfect, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the home life into homelessness." At a later time, friends, having abandoned a small or a great mass of wealth, having abandoned a small or a great circle of relatives, I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the home life into homelessness.
Having thus gone forth, possessed of the training and way of life (sikkhāsājīva) of the bhikkhus, abandoning the destruction of life, I abstained from the destruction of life; with rod laid aside, with weapon laid aside, conscientious, merciful, I dwelt compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. Abandoning the taking of what is not given, I abstained from taking what is not given; taking only what is given, expecting only what is given, I dwelt with myself pure, not by theft. Abandoning what is contrary to the holy life, I lived the holy life, keeping far apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the practice of villagers. Abandoning false speech, I abstained from false speech; I was a speaker of truth, adhering to truth, trustworthy, reliable, no deceiver of the world. Abandoning divisive speech, I abstained from divisive speech; having heard something here, I did not repeat it elsewhere to divide these people; having heard something elsewhere, I did not repeat it here to divide those people. Thus I was a reconciler of those who are divided, a promoter of those who are united; rejoicing in concord, delighting in concord, taking pleasure in concord, I was a speaker of words that create concord. Abandoning harsh speech, I abstained from harsh speech; I was a speaker of such words as are blameless, pleasing to the ear, endearing, going to the heart, urbane, desired by many and agreeable to many. Abandoning idle chatter, I abstained from idle chatter; I spoke at the right time, spoke what is factual, spoke on what is beneficial, spoke on the Dhamma, spoke on the discipline; I was a speaker of words worth treasuring — seasonable, well-grounded, measured, and connected with the goal.
I abstained from injuring seeds and plants. I ate once a day, refraining at night, abstaining from eating at improper times. I abstained from dancing, singing, instrumental music, and seeing unsuitable shows. I abstained from wearing garlands, perfumes, and cosmetics, and from occasions of adorning and beautifying myself. I abstained from high and large beds. I abstained from accepting gold and silver. I abstained from accepting raw grain. I abstained from accepting raw meat. I abstained from accepting women and girls. I abstained from accepting female and male slaves. I abstained from accepting goats and sheep. I abstained from accepting fowl and swine. I abstained from accepting elephants, cattle, horses, and mares. I abstained from accepting fields and land. I abstained from going on errands and running messages. I abstained from buying and selling. I abstained from cheating with false weights, false metals, and false measures. I abstained from bribery, deception, fraud, and duplicity. I abstained from mutilating, killing, binding, brigandage, plunder, and violence.
I was content with a robe to protect the body and with almsfood to sustain the belly; wherever I went, I set out taking only these with me. Just as a winged bird, wherever it flies, flies with its wings as its only burden, even so, friends, I was content with a robe to protect the body and with almsfood to sustain the belly; wherever I went, I set out taking only these with me.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.