An Almsman

Linked Discourses 7.20

2. Lay Followers

An Almsman

At Sāvatthī.

Then a brahmin almsman went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

“Worthy Gotama, both you and I are almsmen. What, then, is the difference between us?”

“You don’t become an almsman

just by begging alms from others.

One who has undertaken domestic duties

has not yet become a mendicant.

But one living a spiritual life

who has banished both merit and evil,

and wanders having appraised the world,

is said to be a mendicant.”

When he had spoken, the brahmin almsman said to the Buddha,

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”