SN 1.10

Araññasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Wilderness

At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Araññe viharantānaṁ, santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ; Ekabhattaṁ bhuñjamānānaṁ, kena vaṇṇo pasīdatī”ti.

“Living in the wilderness, peaceful spiritual practitioners eat just one meal a day: so why is their complexion so clear?”

“Atītaṁ nānusocanti, nappajappanti nāgataṁ; Paccuppannena yāpenti, tena vaṇṇo pasīdati.

“They don’t grieve for the past, nor do they pray for the future; they feed on whatever comes that day, that’s why their complexion’s so clear.

Anāgatappajappāya, atītassānusocanā; Etena bālā sussanti, naḷova harito luto”ti.

Because they pray for the future, and grieve for the past, fools wither away, like a green reed mowed down.”