The Second Treatise on the Perfections – 2806 

 

female servant and a friend. They made their lodgings at a suitable distance near 
a lotus pond and lived on gathered fruits. 

In the beginning, they all went out together to look for fruits; talking to one 
another, they behaved like townsfolk or villagers, not like forest-dwellers. To 
stop this unpleasant situation, the eldest brother Mahā Kañcana said: “I alone 
will go out for fruits. You all stay behind to practise Dhamma in peace.” Then 
the other brothers said: “You are the chief of us all. It is not proper for you to 
gather fruits. The sister and the female servant should not do so either for they 
are women. But the eight of us will do so by turns.” This was agreeable to 
everyone and the remaining eight male persons gathered fruits on rotation to 
feed them all. 

As time went by, they became so content that they did not care for fruits but 
took lotus sprouts from the nearby pond and shared amongst themselves in this 
manner. The one on duty brought lotus sprouts into the leaf hut and divided 
them into eleven portions. The oldest of them took his portion first and, after 
striking the stone drum, went back to his place to eat it peacefully and carried 
on with his practice. When the next senior member heard the sound of the stone 
drum, he took his share and struck the drum in turn. In this manner, they took 
their food one after another, went back to their place to eat and continued to 
practise. Thus, they did not see one another unless there was a special reason. 

As their practice was so severe, causing Sakka’s seat to tremble, the Lord of the 
Devas 

[1634]

 sought out the reason and came to know it. He became doubtful 

that these people were really detached from sensual pleasures. In order to 
investigate the matter, he kept the eldest brother’s share of food hidden by his 
supernormal power for three days continuously. 

When the oldest brother came to take his share on the first day, he did not see it 
and thought that it must have been left out through forgetfulness; he then said 
nothing and went back to his place to continue his meditation. 

On the second day also he found his share missing; thinking that his share was 
purposely left out as a punishment because of someone thinking that he was 
guilty of something, he remained quiet as on the first day. 

On the third day, when he did not find his share, he thought that he should 
apologize if he was guilty, and in the evening, he summoned the others by 
striking the stone drum. He said: “Why did you not give me my share of food?