AN 5.190

Pattapiṇḍikasutta

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, pattapiṇḍikā. Katame pañca? Mandattā momūhattā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, pāpiccho icchāpakato pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ummādā cittakkhepā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ‘vaṇṇitaṁ buddhehi buddhasāvakehī’ti pattapiṇḍiko hoti, appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca pattapiṇḍikā. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

Those Who Eat Only From the Almsbowl

“Mendicants, these five eat only from the almsbowl. What five? One may eat only from the almsbowl because of stupidity and folly. Or because of corrupt wishes, being of wishful temperament. Or because of madness and mental disorder. Or because it is praised by the Buddhas and their disciples. Or for the sake of having few wishes, for the sake of contentment, self-effacement, seclusion, and simplicity. These are the five who eat only from the almsbowl. But the person who eats only from the almsbowl for the sake of having few wishes is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the five.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṁ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo, sappimaṇḍo tattha aggamakkhāyati; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā”ti.

From a cow comes milk, from milk comes curds, from curds come butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes cream of ghee. And the cream of ghee is said to be the best of these. In the same way, the one who eats only from the almsbowl for the sake of having few wishes is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the five.”