[1350] Then, when that half-month had passed, the Blessed One emerged from seclusion and addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Why is it, Ānanda, that the Saṅgha of bhikkhus seems so diminished?"
"It is because, venerable sir, the Blessed One gave a talk on foulness (asubha) to the bhikkhus in many ways, spoke in praise of foulness, spoke in praise of the development of foulness. Those bhikkhus, venerable sir, thinking, 'The Blessed One in many ways gives a talk on foulness, speaks in praise of foulness, speaks in praise of the development of foulness,' dwelt devoted to the practice of the development of foulness in its many aspects and modes. Being troubled by this body, ashamed of it, and disgusted with it, they sought one to bring the knife. Ten bhikkhus took the knife in a single day; twenty … thirty bhikkhus, too, took the knife in a single day. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would explain another method by which this Saṅgha of bhikkhus might be established in final knowledge (aññā)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.