In the past you had faith,
today you have none.
What’s yours is yours alone—
I’ve done nothing wrong.In the past you had faith,
today you have none.
What’s yours is yours alone—
I’ve done nothing wrong.
Faith is impermanent, fickle:
or so I have seen.
Passions wax and wane:
why would a sage waste away on that account?
The meal of a sage is cooked
bit by bit in this family or that.
I’ll walk for alms,
for my legs are strong.
Note: To better understand the context for these verses, you might like to read the commentary’s background story:
Reborn in this Buddha-age in the kingdom of Magadha as a brahmin’s son, he having the essential conditions entered the Order among the forest bhikkhus, and through study and practice acquired sixfold abhiññā. Thereupon he instructed bhikkhus, and preached to many folk on the Refuges and the Precepts. One family in particular he converted to faith and trust; and in that house he was greatly welcomed, the only daughter, a pretty, lovely girl, respectfully providing him with food.
One day Māra, plotting to disturb and disgrace him, took his shape, and going to the maiden, grasped her hand. But she, feeling that this was no human touch, loosed her hand. But the others in the house saw it and lost faith in the Thera. He, knowing nothing, perceived next day their changed manner. And discerning that Māra had been at work, he vowed to loose the dead dog from their neck, and made them tell him what had happened. And the housemaster, hearing his explanation, begged his forgiveness, and declared he himself would wait upon him. The Thera told the matter in these verses.
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids, M.A. Read the whole translation here: Theragāthā: Psalms of the Brethren.
Read this translation of Theragāthā 3.10 Sāṭimattiyattheragāthā: Sāṭimattiya by Bhikkhu Sujato on SuttaCentral.net. Or read a different translation onSuttaFriends.org. Or listen on SC-Voice.net. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.
Or read a translation in Deutsch, Bahasa Indonesia, 日本語, Norsk, සිංහල, or Tiếng Việt. Learn how to find your language.