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Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. Minor Collection Cariyāpiṭaka Pāḷi 1. Akitti Chapter 1. Akitti Practice 1. For a hundred thousand aeons, and four immeasurable ones; Whatever was practiced in between, all that ripened for enlightenment. 2. Setting aside what was practiced in past existences, I will speak of what was practiced in this aeon, listen to me. 3. When I was in the great forest, in a desolate wilderness, dwelling having entered it, I was a hermit named Akitti. 4. Then, by the power of my asceticism, the lord of the heavens, tormented, assuming the form of a brahmin, came to me for alms. 5. Seeing him standing at my door, I poured out the leaves brought from the forest, which were without oil and without salt, from my own pot. 6. Having given him the leaves, and overturned the vessel, I abandoned further seeking, and entered my leaf-hut. 7. A second time, and a third time, he came near me; Unshaken, unattached, I gave him just so. 8. Because of that, there was no discoloration in my body; With joy and happiness, I passed that day. 9. If for a month or two months, I were to receive a worthy recipient, Unshaken, unattached, I would give the supreme gift. 10. Giving that gift, I did not wish for fame or gain; Desiring omniscience, I performed those deeds. The first, Akitti Practice. 2. Saṅkha Practice 11. Again, when I was a brahmin named Saṅkha; Desiring to cross the great ocean, I approached the port. 12. There I saw on the path, the Self-Existent, the Unconquered; Who had set out on a desert road, on hot, hard ground. 13. Seeing him on the path, I reflected on this matter; ‘This field has been reached, for a being desirous of merit. 14. ‘Just as a farmer, seeing a great field; If he does not sow seeds there, he will not get grain. is not desirous. 15. ‘‘‘Just so am I desirous of merit, having seen the best of fields; If I do not make an effort there, I am not desirous of merit. 16. ‘‘‘As a minister desirous of a seal, among the people in the king’s inner palace; Does not give them wealth and grain, he is deprived of the seal. 17. ‘‘‘Just so am I desirous of merit, having seen a great offering; If I do not give that gift, I shall be deprived of merit.’ 18. ‘‘Thus having thought, and having taken off my sandals; Having worshipped his feet, I gave the umbrella and sandals. 19. ‘‘Therefore I, a hundredfold, was delicate and well-nourished; And completing the gift, thus I gave it to him.’’ The second, Saṅkhacariya. 3. Kururājacariyā 20. ‘‘Again, when I was, in the best of cities, Indapattha; A king named Dhanañcaya, endowed with the ten good deeds. 21. ‘‘Brahmins from the Kaliṅga country, approached me; They begged me for the elephant, the auspicious and blessed one. 22. ‘‘‘The country is without rain, there is a great famine and hunger; Give the excellent elephant, the blue one, called Añjana. 23. ‘‘‘When a beggar comes to me, refusal is not fitting; May my resolve not be broken, I will give the great elephant.’ 24. ‘‘Taking the elephant by its trunk, with a jewelled water-pot; Pouring water on my hand, I gave the elephant to the brahmins. 25. ‘‘When that elephant was given, the ministers said this; ‘Why do you give your excellent elephant, to beggars? 26. ‘‘‘The blessed and auspicious one, the best for victory in battle; When that elephant is given, what will your kingdom do?’ 27. ‘‘‘I would give all my kingdom, I would give my own body; Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave the elephant.’’’ The third, Kururājacariya. 4. Mahāsudassanacariyā 28. ‘‘In the city of Kusāvatī, when I was king; Mahāsudassana by name, a powerful Wheel-turning Monarch. 29. ‘‘There I, on that day, I proclaimed, here and there: ‘Who desires what? Who wishes for what? To whom should wealth be given? 30. ‘Who is hungry? Who is thirsty? Who wants garlands? Who wants unguents? Who, being naked, will wear the various colored clothes? 31. ‘Who will take an umbrella for the path? Who wants soft, fine sandals?’ Thus, morning and evening, I proclaimed here and there. 32. Not in ten places, nor in a hundred places, but in many hundreds of places, was wealth prepared for beggars. 33. Whether by day or by night, if a mendicant came, having received whatever he desired, he would depart with full hands. 34. Such a great gift I gave throughout my life. I did not give wealth grudgingly, nor was there any shortage for me. 35. Just as a sick person, for release from illness, pleases the physician with wealth, and is released from illness. 36. Just so, knowing this, to fulfill completely, to fill what is lacking, I gave gifts to mendicants, without attachment, without expectation, for the attainment of perfect enlightenment.” The fourth, the conduct of Mahāsudassana. 5. The Conduct of Mahāgovinda 37. Again, when I was the chief priest of seven kings, honored by human deities, the brahmin Mahāgovinda. 38. Then, from what I received in the seven kingdoms, I gave great gifts, unshakeable, like the ocean. 39. My wealth and grain were not grudged, nor was there any shortage for me. Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave excellent wealth.” The fifth, the conduct of Mahāgovinda. 6. The Conduct of King Nimi 40. Again, when I was in Mithilā, the best of cities, a great king named Nimi, wise, seeking what is wholesome. 41. Then, having built a four-doored hall, there I gave gifts to animals, birds, and humans. 42. Clothing and bedding, food and drink and meals; without interruption, I gave great gifts. 43. Just as a servant approaches his master for the sake of wealth, with his body By speech, by mind, He seeks what is to be accomplished. 44. "Just so, in all existences, I will seek awakening. Having satisfied beings with generosity, I desire supreme awakening." The Sixth, the Conduct of King Nimi. 7. The Conduct of Prince Canda 45. "Again, when I was The son of a king, In the city of Pupphavati, A prince named Canda. 46. Then I, freed from sacrifice, Having come forth from the sacrificial ground, Having aroused a sense of urgency, Set forth a great gift. 47. I do not drink, I do not eat, Nor do I partake of food, Without giving to the worthy of offerings, Even for five or six nights. 48. Just as a merchant, Having gathered his goods, Where the profit is great, There he takes his merchandise. 49. Just so, even what is eaten by oneself, Given to others, is of great fruit. Therefore, it should be given to others, It will be a hundredfold. 50. Knowing this reason, I give gifts in existence after existence. I do not turn back from giving, For the attainment of perfect awakening." The Seventh, the Conduct of Prince Canda. 8. The Conduct of King Sivi 51. "In the city named Ariṭṭha, There was a khattiya named Sivi. Seated in the excellent palace, I then thought thus. 52. 'Whatever human gift, There is none that I have not given. Even if someone were to ask me for my eyes, I would give them without hesitation.' 53. Knowing my resolve, Sakka, lord of the devas, Seated in the assembly of devas, Spoke this word. 54. 'Seated in the excellent palace, King Sivi, mighty, Thinking of various gifts, Sees nothing that cannot be given. 55. 'Is this true or false? Come, I will test him. Wait for a moment, Until I know his mind.' 56. Trembling, with grey hair, With wrinkled body, afflicted by old age, Having become like a blind person, He approached the king. 57. He then, having raised His left and right arms, Having made an añjali to his head, Spoke this word. 58. 'I ask you O great king, righteous one, promoter of the realm; Your fame, delighting in giving, has risen among gods and humans. 59. “‘Both my eyes, my sight, are blind and ruined; Give me one eye, and you too live with one.’ 60. “Hearing her words, I, joyful and with a mind stirred, With clasped hands, filled with emotion, spoke these words: 61. “‘Now, having thought, I have come down from the palace; You, understanding my mind, have come to ask for an eye. 62. “‘Oh, my wish is fulfilled, my resolve is completed; Today I will give to the beggar the supreme gift never given before. 63. “‘Come, Sivaka, arise, do not delay, do not tremble; Pluck out both eyes and give them to the beggar.’ 64. “Then, urged by me, Sivaka, doing my bidding, Plucked them out and gave them, like palm-fruit pulp, to the beggar. 65. “As I was giving, as I was bestowing, as I was mindful of the gift given; My mind was not otherwise, it was solely for the sake of awakening. 66. “Both my eyes were not hateful to me, my self was not hateful to me; Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave the eye.” The eighth, the Conduct of King Sivi. 9. The Conduct of Vessantara 67. “My mother, named Phussati, a khattiya woman, In past existences, was the beloved chief queen of Sakka. 68. “Knowing her lifespan was ending, the king of gods said this: ‘I give you ten boons, O beautiful one, whatever you wish.’ 69. “Thus spoken, that goddess again said this to Sakka: ‘What offense have I committed? Am I hateful to you? You remove me from a pleasant place, like the wind a tree.’ 70. “Thus spoken, Sakka again said this to her: ‘You have not done any evil, nor are you unloved by me. 71. “‘This is the extent of your life, the time for your passing will come; Accept the ten supreme boons given by me.’ 72. “She, granted boons by Sakka, delighted and joyful, Making me the focus, Phussati chose ten boons. 73. “Then, having passed away from there, she Oh Phussati, you were reborn among the Khattiyas; In the city of Jetuttara, you met with Sañjaya. 74. "When I entered the womb of Phussati, my dear mother; By my power, my mother was always devoted to giving. 75. To the poor, the sick, the old, to beggars, to travelers; To ascetics, Brahmins, the destitute, she gave gifts without attachment. 76. After carrying me for ten months,