With Nanda (SN21.8)

Linked Discourses 21.8

1. Monks

With Nanda

At Sāvatthī.

Then Venerable Nanda—the Buddha’s cousin on his mother’s side—dressed in nicely pressed and ironed robes, applied eyeshadow, and took a glazed bowl. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:¹

“Nanda, as a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to dress in nicely pressed and ironed robes, apply eyeshadow, and carry a glazed bowl.

It’s appropriate for you to stay in the wilderness, eat only almsfood, wear rag robes, and live without concern for sensual pleasures.”

That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“When will I see Nanda

in the wilderness, wearing rag robes,

feeding on scraps offered by strangers,

unconcerned for sensual pleasures?”

Then some time later Venerable Nanda stayed in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, wore rag robes, and lived without concern for sensual pleasures.