Mahāsakuludāyisutta

mn77:9.1 “Suppose, Udāyī, my disciples were loyal to me because I eat little. Well, there are disciples of mine who eat a tumbler of food, or half a tumbler; they eat a wood-apple, or half a wood-apple.

mn77:9.2 But sometimes I even eat this bowl full to the brim, or even more.

mn77:9.3 So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I eat little, then those disciples who eat even less would not be loyal to me.

mn77:9.4 Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of robe. Well, there are disciples of mine who have rag robes, wearing shabby robes. They gather scraps from charnel grounds, rubbish dumps, and shops, make them into a patchwork robe and wear it.

mn77:9.5 But sometimes I wear robes offered by householders that are strong, yet next to which bottle-gourd down is coarse.

mn77:9.6 So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of robe, then those disciples who wear rag robes would not be loyal to me.

mn77:9.7 Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of almsfood. Well, there are disciples of mine who eat only almsfood, wander indiscriminately for almsfood, happy to eat whatever they glean. When they’ve entered an inhabited area, they don’t consent when invited to sit down.

mn77:9.8 But sometimes I even eat by invitation boiled fine rice with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces.

mn77:9.9 So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of almsfood, then those disciples who eat only almsfood would not be loyal to me.

mn77:9.10 Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of lodging. Well, there are disciples of mine who stay at the root of a tree, in the open air. For eight months they don’t go under a roof.

mn77:9.11 But sometimes I even stay in bungalows, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with doors fastened and windows shuttered.

mn77:9.12 So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of lodging, then those disciples who stay at the root of a tree would not be loyal to me.

mn77:9.13 Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m secluded and I praise seclusion. Well, there are disciples of mine who live in the wilderness, in remote lodgings. Having ventured deep into remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest, they live there, coming down to the midst of the Saṅgha each fortnight for the recitation of the monastic code.

mn77:9.14 But sometimes I live crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples.

mn77:9.15 So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m secluded and praise seclusion, then those disciples who live in the wilderness would not be loyal to me.

mn77:9.16 So, Udāyī, it’s not because of these five qualities that my disciples honor, respect, revere, and venerate me; and honoring and respecting me, they remain loyal to me.