The king saw monks in the forest, lone and far away from men, keeping hard vows. Then he saw householders at home, enjoying the sweet fruits of the Noble Path. Considering both of these deep doubts he felt, “If laymen also realise the truth, then surely making vows must be worthless. Come! Let me ask that best of teachers, wise in the threefold collection of the Buddha’s words, skilled to overthrow the arguments of the opponents. He will be able to resolve my doubts!”

Milinda approached Nagasena, paid respects to him, and seated at one side asked: “Venerable Nagasena, is there any layperson who has attained nibbana?”

“Not only one hundred or a thousand but more than a billion[ ] have attained nibbana. “

“If, Nagasena, laypeople living at home, enjoying the pleasures of the senses can attain nibbana what is the use of the extra vows? If one’s enemies could be subdued with fists alone what would be the use of seeking weapons? If trees could be climbed by clambering up what would be the use of ladders? If it was comfortable to lie on the bare ground what would be the use of beds? Just so, if a layperson can attain nibbana even while living at home what is the use of the extra vows?”

“There are, O king, twenty-eight virtues of these practices on account of which the Buddhas have a high regard for them. The keeping of the vows is a pure mode of livelihood, its fruit is blissful, it is blameless, it brings no suffering to others, it gives confidence,[ ] it doesn’t oppress,[ ] it is certain to bring growth in good qualities, it prevents back-sliding, it doesn’t delude, it is a protection, it fulfils one’s desires, it tames all beings, it is good for self-discipline, it is proper for a recluse, he is independent,[ ] he is free,[ ] it destroys desire, it destroys hatred, it destroys delusion, it humbles pride, it cuts off discursive thoughts and makes the mind one-pointed, it overcomes doubts, it drives away sloth, it banishes discontent, it makes him tolerant, it is incomparable, it is beyond measure, and it leads to the destruction of all suffering.

“Whosoever carries out these vows becomes endowed with eighteen good qualities. His conduct is pure, his practice is fully accomplished, his actions and speech are well-guarded, his thoughts are pure, his energy is stirred up, his fear is allayed, views of personality are dispelled, wrath dies away and love arises, he eats perceiving the repulsive nature of food, he is honoured by all beings, he is moderate in eating, he is full of vigilance, he is homeless and can dwell wherever it suits him, he detests evil, he delights in solitude, and he is always heedful.

“These ten individuals are worthy of undertaking the vows: one full of confidence, full of shame, full of courage, void of hypocrisy, one who is self-reliant, steadfast, desirous of training, of strong determination, very introspective, and one who is of a loving disposition.

“All those laypeople who realise nibbana while living at home do so because they practised these vows in former births. There is no realisation of the goal of arahantship in this very life without these vows. Only by the utmost zealousness is arahantship attained. Thus the value of keeping the vows if full of value and might.

“Whosoever, O king, having evil desires in his mind, should take upon himself these vows seeking after material gain shall incur a double punishment; in this world he will be scorned and ridiculed and after death he will suffer in hell.

“Whosoever, O king, whose conduct is consistent with monkhood, who is worthy of it, who desires little and is content, given to seclusion, energetic, without guile, and has gone forth not from desire for gain or fame but with confidence in the Dhamma, wishing for deliverance from old age and death, he is worthy of double honour for he is loved by gods and men and he quickly attains the four fruits, the four kinds of discrimination,[ ] the three-fold vision [ ] and the sixfold higher knowledge.[ ]

“What are the thirteen vows? Wearing rag-robes, using only three robes, living only on alms-food, begging from house to house without preference, eating one meal a day, eating from the bowl only, refusing later food, dwelling in the forest, dwelling at the root of a tree, dwelling in the open, dwelling in a cemetery, using any sleeping place allotted to him, and not lying down to sleep.[ ]

“It was by the observance of these vows that Upasena was able to visit the Blessed One when he was dwelling in solitude [ ] and it was by these same vows that Sariputta became of such exalted virtue that he was declared second only to the Blessed One himself in ability to preach the Dhamma.” [ ]

“Very good, Nagasena, the whole teaching of the Buddha, the supramundane attainments and all the best achievements in the world are included in these thirteen ascetic practices.”

© Copyright Christine Fitzmaurice