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by a son, or by one who is diligent; The word of the Buddha should not be trampled, with the highest excellent attention. The second question on the characteristic of the fowl. 3. The Question on the Characteristic of the Squirrel 3. “Venerable Nāgasena, when you say, ‘one characteristic of the squirrel should be adopted,’ which is that one characteristic that should be adopted?” “Just as, great king, when an enemy approaches, the squirrel lashes its tail, making it large, and with that very tail-club repels the enemy; even so, great king, when the enemy of defilements approaches, the yogi, the practitioner, should lash the club of mindfulness, making it large, and with that very club of mindfulness, all defilements should be repelled. This, great king, is the one characteristic of the squirrel that should be adopted. This was also said, great king, by the Elder Cūḷapanthaka – ‘When defilements approach, destroying the qualities of recluseship; With the club of mindfulness, they should be struck again and again.’” The third question on the characteristic of the squirrel. 4. The Question on the Characteristic of the Leopardess 4. “Venerable Nāgasena, when you say, ‘one characteristic of the leopardess should be adopted,’ which is that one characteristic that should be adopted?” “Just as, great king, the leopardess conceives only once, and does not approach a male again? Even so, great king, the yogi, the practitioner, having seen future rebirth, reappearance, conception in a womb, death, dissolution, decay, destruction, the terror of transmigration, a bad destination, a difficult and oppressive state, should wisely reflect, ‘I will not be reborn again in future existence.’ This, great king, is the one characteristic of the leopardess that should be adopted. This was also said, great king, by the Blessed One, the God of gods, in the Dhaniya Sutta of the Suttanipāta – ‘Like a bull having broken its bonds, like an elephant having torn a rotten creeper; I will not enter a womb again, so if you wish, rain, O sky!’” The fourth question on the characteristic of the leopardess. 5. The Question on the Characteristics of the Lamp 5. “Venerable Nāgasena, when you say, ‘two characteristics of the lamp should be adopted,’ which are those What are these two qualities to be adopted? Just as, O great king, a leopard in the forest, relying on a thicket of grass or a thicket of trees or a thicket of mountains, lies hidden and catches deer, even so, O great king, by the yogi, the meditator, solitude should be cultivated: a forest, a root of a tree, a mountain, a cave, a mountain grotto, a charnel ground, a forest grove, the open air, a heap of straw, a place of little noise, little clamor, a solitary wind, a place where people are secluded, suitable for seclusion. For, O great king, the yogi, the meditator, cultivating solitude, not long after attains mastery in the six supernormal powers. This, O great king, is the first quality of the leopard to be adopted. And this, O great king, was spoken by the elders who compiled the Dhamma – Just as a leopard, lying hidden, catches deer; Even so, this son of the Buddha, the diligent meditator, the insight-practitioner; Having entered the forest, attains the supreme fruit. And furthermore, O great king, a leopard, having killed any animal, does not devour it if it falls on its left side. Even so, O great king, by the yogi, the meditator, food obtained through giving of bamboo, or giving of leaves, or giving of flowers, or giving of fruits, or giving of bathing powder, or giving of clay, or giving of powders, or giving of tooth-sticks, or giving of mouth-water, or through flattery, or through bean-soup, or through personal service, or through running errands, or through medical practice, or through acting as a messenger, or through going on missions, or through giving a portion of alms, or through giving gifts, or through knowledge of land, or through knowledge of stars, or through knowledge of bodily marks, or through any other wrong livelihood condemned by the Buddha, such food should not be eaten, just as the leopard does not eat the animal that falls on its left side. This, O great king, is the second quality of the leopard to be adopted. And this, O great king, was spoken by the Elder Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma. By the display of speech, the honey-rice porridge that arose; If I were to eat it, my livelihood would be censured. Even if my intestines, having come out, were to wander outside; I would not break my livelihood, even giving up my life. The fifth question on the lamp's qualities. 6. The Question on the Qualities of a Tortoise 6. ‘‘Venerable Nāgasena, when you say, ‘Five qualities of a tortoise should be adopted,’ what are those five qualities that should be adopted?’’ ‘‘Just as, great king, a water-dwelling tortoise makes its abode in the water itself, even so, great king, a yogi, a practitioner, should dwell pervading the entire world with a mind accompanied by loving-kindness, vast, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill-will, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings, creatures, and individuals. This, great king, is the first quality of a tortoise to be adopted. ‘‘Furthermore, great king, when a tortoise floats on the water, raising its head, if anyone sees it, it immediately dives and plunges deeply there, thinking, ‘May they not see me again.’ Even so, great king, when defilements arise, a yogi, a practitioner, should dive and plunge deeply into the lake of objects, thinking, ‘May defilements not see me again.’ This, great king, is the second quality of a tortoise to be adopted. ‘‘Furthermore, great king, a tortoise, having emerged from the water, warms its body. Even so, great king, a yogi, a practitioner, having withdrawn the mind from sitting, lying, and walking, should warm the mind in right effort. This, great king, is the third quality of a tortoise to be adopted. ‘‘Furthermore, great king, a tortoise, having dug into the earth, makes its abode in solitude. Even so, great king, a yogi, a practitioner, having abandoned gain, honor, and fame, should enter a deserted, solitary forest, a wilderness, a mountain, a cave, a mountain grotto, a place of little noise, little sound, a secluded place, and make his abode in solitude itself. This, great king, is the fourth quality of a tortoise to be adopted. And this, O King, was said by the Elder Upasena, son of Vaṅganta: "Secluded, with little noise, frequented by wild animals, a monk should resort to such a dwelling, for the sake of seclusion." And furthermore, O King, when a tortoise, roaming about, sees anything, or hears a sound, it withdraws its five limbs, including its head, into its own shell, unconcerned, remaining silent, protecting its body. Just so, O King, the yogi, the practitioner, when sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental objects assail the six doors, should not open the door of restraint. He should compose his mind, establish restraint, and dwell with mindfulness and clear comprehension, protecting the ascetic's way of life. This, O King, is the fifth quality of the tortoise to be adopted. And this, O King, was said by the Blessed One, the God of gods, in the Kummūpama Sutta of the Saṃyutta Nikāya: "Like a tortoise withdrawing its limbs into its shell, a monk should compose his mental thoughts. Unattached, harming no other, fully extinguished, he should not blame anyone." The Sixth Question on the Tortoise's Qualities. 7. The Question on the Bamboo's Quality. 7. "Venerable Nāgasena, when you say 'one quality of the bamboo should be adopted,' which is that one quality to be adopted?" "Just as, O King, the bamboo bends where the wind blows, it does not run elsewhere, even so, O King, the yogi, the practitioner, should conform to the nine-fold teaching of the Master, spoken by the Buddha, the Blessed One. Abiding in what is proper and blameless, he should seek only the ascetic's way of life. This, O King, is the one quality of the bamboo to be adopted. And this, O King, was said by the Elder Rāhula: "Always conforming to the nine-fold word of the Buddha, abiding in what is proper and blameless, he crossed over suffering." The Seventh Question on the Bamboo's Quality. 8. The Question on the Bow's Quality. 8. "Venerable Nāgasena, when you say 'one quality of the bow should be adopted,' which is that one quality to be adopted?" "Just as, O King, the bamboo..." Just as, O king, a well-planed bow, when bent, from tip to base, bends evenly and does not resist, even so, O great king, the yogi, the meditator, should bend evenly towards those who are elders, new, or in the middle, and not resist them. This, O great king, is one quality to be taken from the bow. And this, O great king, was spoken by the Blessed One, the God of gods, in the Vidhura [Puṇṇaka] Jātaka – ‘A bow, though slender, is firm, Or a bamboo may sway; It should not turn against, He should dwell in the king's abode.’ The eighth question on the quality of the bow. 9. The question on the quality of the crow. 9. ‘Venerable Nāgasena, when you say, “Two qualities are to be taken from the crow,” what are those two qualities to be taken?’ ‘Just as, O great king, a crow moves about with suspicion and great effort, even so, O great king, the yogi, the meditator, should move about with suspicion and great effort, with mindfulness established, with senses restrained. This, O great king, is the first quality to be taken from the crow. ‘And further, O great king, a crow, having seen any food, shares it with its relatives and then eats. Even so, O great king, the yogi, the meditator, should be one who shares the gains, those righteous gains obtained by Dhamma, even if it is merely what fits in the bowl, with virtuous fellow practitioners. This, O great king, is the second quality to be taken from the crow. And this, O great king, was spoken by the Elder Sāriputta,