________________
498
The Unknown Pilgrims
is to disengage the motivation behind these rules and to get to know the concrete areas in which they apply.82
i) Mädhukari, the activity of the bee:
Just as the bee gathers the nectar from the tree's blossoms and imbides sufficient without exhausting the flower,83 so, free in this world, these holy Śramaņas content themselves with seeking their food and necessities like [bees) flitting among the
flowers. 84
"We provide for our subsistence and no-one suffers harm" [they say). Like the bees among the flowers, so they go (among the houses, accepting) from what is available. 85
Enlightened, they go, free, as is the bee, from all bonds of attachment, contenting themselves with various sorts of food, masters of themselves; they are called Saints. 86
ii) Pindaişaņa: cșaņā (the quest) for pinda (food). The cow which browses pcaccably in the meadows and the bee which gathers the nectar from the slowers are living examples that the sādhvis must
82 Cf. DS V, which goes into great detail upon this subject.
83 jahă dumassa pupphesu bhamaro āviyai rasam
na ya puppham kilāmci so ya piņci appayam. DS I, 2.
84 cmee samaņā mutlā je loc samti sāhuņo
vihamgamă va puppiesu dana-bhattesane rayä DS I, 3.
85
vayam ca vittim labbhårno na ya koi uvahammai ahägadesu riyamte pupphesu bhamarā jahā. DS I, 4.
86 mahukārasamā buddhā je bhavanti aņissiya
nāņāpimdarayā daṁta teņa vuccarti săhuno. DSI, 5; enlightened: buddhā, wise. Just as the bee gathers nectar from one flower after another, so they accept a small quantity of the family's prepared food in different houses, collecting in this way a variety of foodstuffs.
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