sn35.244:9.1 Suppose that, although the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east, a large crowd were to come along with a spade and basket, saying: ‘We’ll make this Ganges Riiver slant, slope, and incline to the west!’
BAGIAN 9
sn35.244:9.2 What do you think, mendicants?
sn35.244:9.3 Would they still succeed?”
sn35.244:9.4 “No, sir.
sn35.244:9.5 Why is that?
sn35.244:9.6 The Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east.
sn35.244:9.7 It’s not easy to make it slant, slope, and incline to the west.
sn35.244:9.8 That large crowd will eventually get weary and frustrated.”
sn35.244:9.9 “In the same way, while that mendicant conducts themselves in this way and lives in this way, it may be that rulers or their chief ministers, friends or colleagues, relatives or family should invite them to accept wealth, saying,
sn35.244:9.10 ‘Please, my man, why let these ocher robes torment you?
sn35.244:9.11 Why follow the practice of shaving your head and carrying an alms bowl?
sn35.244:9.12 Come, return to a lesser life, enjoy wealth, and make merit!’
sn35.244:9.13 But it is quite impossible for a mendicant who conducts themselves in this way and lives in this way to resign the training and return to a lesser life.
sn35.244:9.14 Why is that?
sn35.244:9.15 Because for a long time that mendicant’s mind has slanted, sloped, and inclined to seclusion. So it’s impossible for them to return to a lesser life.”