iti.101 Itivuttaka

Easily Obtained

This was said by the Lord…

“These four, bhikkhus, are trifling things, easily obtained and blameless. What four? A robe made of cast-off rags is a trifling thing, easily obtained and blameless. Food gathered on alms round is a trifling thing, easily obtained and blameless. The root of a tree as a dwelling place is a trifling thing, easily obtained and blameless. Medicine consisting of putrid cow urine is a trifling thing, easily obtained and blameless. These, bhikkhus, are the four trifling things, easily obtained and blameless. When a bhikkhu is content with these things that are trifling and easily obtained, I say of him that he has the requisites for recluseship.”

One content with what is blameless,
Things trifling and easily obtained,
Does not become vexed in mind
When not obtaining a place to live,
A robe to wear, and food and drink;
He has no resentment in any quarter.

These are the things declared to be
Suitable for a recluse’s life
By possession of which a bhikkhu
May abide content and diligent.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Easy to Find

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, these four trifles are easy to find and are blameless.
What four?
Rag-robes …
A lump of almsfood …
Lodgings at the root of a tree …
Fermented urine as medicine …
These four trifles are easy to find and are blameless.
When a mendicant is content with trifles that are easy to find, they have one of the factors of the ascetic life, I say.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“When one is content with what’s blameless,
trifling, and easy to find,
they don’t get upset
about lodgings, robes,
food, and drink,
and they’re not obstructed anywhere.
These qualities are said to be
integral to the ascetic life.
They’re mastered by a mendicant,
content and diligent.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.