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to an ascetic, hard to bear like a mountain. On the one hand, there is disgrace to the family, etc.; on the other hand, there is the vow difficult to perform. Here, a precipice; there, a tiger. I have fallen into a dilemma, alas!
Oh, I have an idea! This road will surely be like a smooth path on a mountain even though rough. Those ascetics are conquerors over hurtful acts of mind, speech, and body. I am conquered by them. Therefore, in future I shall carry three staves. They are bald because they subdue their senses by pulling out the hair from their heads. 1, on the contrary, shall have a bald head by shaving. They always abstain from destruction, etc., of gross and fine life. On my part, there will be abstinence from destruction, etc., of gross life. They are without possessions. I shall have some things—a gold ring, etc. They are without shoes; I shall wear shoes. They are fragrant from the eighteen thousand rules of good conduct. I, malodorous from my conduct, shall use sandal, etc. Those sādhus are free from illusion. I am covered with illusion. I shall carry an umbrella over my head, a sign of that. They wear white clothes; but I, impure from passions (kaşāya), shall wear reddish-brown (kāṣāya) garments, in memory of that fact. They, fearing evil, give up the use of water which contains much life. Let me have bathing and drinking with water used in moderation.”
After making these plans according to his own idea, Marici wore his own outfit and then, such as he was, wandered with the Master. Just as a mule is neither horse nor donkey, but has a share of both, so Marici was then neither ascetic nor householder. Many people who saw him different from the great sages, like a crow among hansas, asked him about dharma, out of curiosity. He taught the sādhus' dharma, preeminent with its mūla- and uttaraguņas. Questioned as to why he did not practice it himself, he said he was unable. After enlightening the
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