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The śramaņi: The Worker
501
- have an energetic bearing, neither stopping, sitting down or leaning against anything; not chat with one or an other;97
- if they have relatives or family members in the place, they may by all means go to their house, so long as they do not make any exception in regard to them or warn them in advance of their coming:98
- if other ascetics or beggars are repairing to the same house, they must not hasten to overtake them and be served before them, but must "stand to one side and present themselves after their departure.99 They must:
- make no difference between the dwellings of the rich and those of the less fortunate, what matters being that the food should be pure; 100
- above all, pay attention to the spirit of detachment, not worrying about the food, what it is like, whether in such or such a house it is appetising, etc.; 101
• respond to everyone with equanimity, whatever reception they receive, and show no displeasure if they are refused alms.102
The Mūrtipūjaka sādhvis utter the words:" dharma-labha" ("Flourish in the dharma!") 103 at the entrance to a house as a blessing upon their hosts.
97 Ibid., 2, 8-9.
98 Cf. AS II, 1,4, 4.
99 DS V, 2, 10-13.
100 Ibid., 2, 25.
101 Ibid., 2, 26-27.
102 Ibid., 2, 28. 103 Or "May the dharma bring you gain!"
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