“You fall asleep talking about ‘contemplatives’,
you wake up talking about ‘contemplatives’,
you only praise contemplatives,
surely you will become a contemplative.
Abundant food and drink
you offer to contemplatives.
Rohinī, now I ask:
what is so dear to you about contemplatives?
They’re idle and lazy,
living on what is given by others,
longing for sweet sensual pleasures,
what is so dear to you about contemplatives?”
“For a very long time indeed, father,
you have asked me about contemplatives.
For you, I will speak in praise of their
wisdom, morality, and commitment.
Industrious, not lazy,
doers of the best deeds,
they give up passion and aversion,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
The three roots of evil
they shake off, the ones whose actions are pure,
they have abandoned all evil,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
They do pure bodily actions,
as well as verbal actions,
and pure mental actions,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
Spotless as a pearl,
they are pure internally and externally.
Full of bright qualities,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
Very learned, knowing the Dhamma by heart,
Noble Ones, living a life of Dhamma,
they expound the meaning of the Dhamma,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
Very learned, knowing the Dhamma by heart,
Noble Ones, living a life of Dhamma,
mindful, with one-pointed minds,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
Going afar, mindful,
giving counsel without conceit,
they clearly know the end of suffering,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
From whichever village they set out,
they never look back,
they wander without longing,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
They do not deposit things in storerooms,
nor do they have pots and pans.
Seeking complete perfection,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
They do not take up gold,
silver or money,
they are nourished by the present moment,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.
Monastics from different clans,
and from different provinces,
they hold each other dear,
because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.”
“Madam, it surely was for our benefit,
that you were born in this clan, Rohinī,
very devout, and with faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma,
and the Sangha.
You clearly know this
incomparable field of merit.
These contemplatives
will receive donations from us as well.
Charity will be established here by us,
and it will be abundant.”
“If you are afraid of suffering,
if you dislike suffering,
go for refuge to the Buddha,
Dhamma, and Sangha.
Take up the moral practices,
for your own sake.”
“I go for refuge to the Buddha,
Dhamma, and Sangha.
Having taken up the moral practices,
it will be for my sake.”
“Before I was a kinsman of Brahmā,
now I am a brahmin.
Possessing three superhuman knowledges, I am one who has attained the highest knowledge,
I am one who has bathed.”
Read this translation of Therīgāthā 13.2 Rohinītherīgāthā: Verses of the Elder Rohinī by Ayya Soma on SuttaCentral.net. Or read a different translation on SuttaCentral.net, SuttaFriends.org or DhammaTalks.org. Or listen on SC-Voice.net.