"Lord, for a long time I have lived in the wilderness and have extolled living in the wilderness. I have been an almsgoer and have extolled being an almsgoer. I have worn cast off rags and have extolled wearing cast off rags. I have worn only one set of the triple robe and have extolled wearing only one set of the triple robe. I have been modest and have extolled being modest. I have been content and have extolled being content. I have been reclusive and have extolled being reclusive. I have been unentangled and have extolled being unentangled. I have kept my persistence aroused and have extolled having persistence aroused."
"But, Kassapa, what compelling reason do you see that you for a long time have lived in the wilderness and have extolled living in the wilderness...that you have kept your persistence aroused and have extolled having persistence aroused?"
"Lord, I see two compelling reasons that for a long time I have lived
in the wilderness and have extolled living in the wilderness...that I have
kept my persistence aroused and have extolled having persistence aroused:
seeing a pleasant abiding for myself in the here & now, and feeling
sympathy for later generations: 'Perhaps later generations will take it
as an example: "It seems that the disciples of the Awakened One and those
who awakened after him lived for a long time in the wilderness and extolled
living in the wilderness; were almsgoers and extolled being almsgoers;
wore cast off rags and extolled wearing cast off rags; wore only one set
of the triple robe and extolled wearing only one set of the triple robe;
were modest and extolled being modest; were content and extolled being
content; were reclusive and extolled being reclusive; were unentangled
and extolled being unentangled; kept their persistence aroused and extolled
having persistence aroused."'"