LUXURIOUS LIVING

  WHILE the Buddha was preaching his doctrine for the conversion of

the world in the neighborhood of Savatthi, a man of great wealth who

suffered from many ailments came to him with clasped hands and said:

"World-honored Buddha, pardon me for my want of respect in not

saluting thee as I ought but I suffer greatly from obesity,

excessive drowsiness, and other complaints, so that I cannot move

without pain."

  The Tathagata, seeing the luxuries with which the man was surrounded

asked him: "Hast thou a desire to know the cause of thy ailments?" And

when the wealthy man expressed his willingness to learn, the Blessed

One said: "There are five things which produce the condition of

which thou complainest: opulent dinners, love of sleep, hankering

after pleasure, thoughtlessness, and lack of occupation. Exercise

self-control at thy meals, and take upon thyself some duties that will

exercise thy abilities and make thee useful to thy fellow-men. In

following this advice thou wilt prolong thy life."

  The rich man remembered the words of the Buddha and after some

time having recovered his lightness of body and youthful buoyancy

returned to the World-honored One and, coming afoot without horses and

attendants, said to him: "Master, thou hast cured my bodily

ailments; I come now to seek enlightenment of my mind."

  And the Blessed One said: "The worldling nourishes his body, but the

wise man nourishes his mind. He who indulges in the satisfaction of

his appetites works his own destruction; but he who walks in the

path will have both the salvation from evil and a prolongation of

life."