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THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
VII, 1, 17.
or feelings strike upon him, shut to the gate of self-restraint at the six doors of his senses, cover up his mind in self-control, and continue constant in mindfulness and thoughtfulness to save his Samanaship. This, o king, is the fifth of the qualities of the tortoise he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the most excellent Samyutta Nikâya, in the Sutta of the parable of the tortoise : "As the tortoise withdraws his limbs in his shell,
Let the Bhikshu bury the thoughts of his mind, Himself Independent, injuring none, Set free himself, speaking evil of none 1.".
7. THE BAMBOO. 17. [372] Venerable Nagasena, that one quality of the bamboo which you say he ought to take, which is it?'
Just, o king, as the bamboo, whithersoever the gale blows, to that quarter does it bend accordingly, pursuing no other way of its own ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, conduct himself in accordance with the ninefold teaching of the Master, the word of the Buddha, the Blessed One, and stedfastly keeping to all things lawful and blameless, he should seek after the qualities of the Samanaship itself. This, O king, is the one quality of the bamboo he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Rahula, the Elder :
1 The parable is in the 46th Samyutta. The verses are already published at vol. I, p. 7 of M. Feer's edition for the Pali Text Society.
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