When the Buddha was staying in the town of Sāvatthī, a deity appeared next to him and uttered this verse in his presence:
- Dwelling in the forest,
- quiescent
- living the holy life,
- They eat only
- a single meal
- each day,
- So why is their countenance
- so serene?
The Buddha replied:
- They do not
- lament the past,
- They do not hanker
- after the future,
- Maintaining themselves
- in the present,
- Their complexion
- becomes so serene.
-
- Hankering after
- the future,
- lamenting the past,
- Because of this
- the foolish wither away,
- Like a fresh reed
- chopped down.
SN 1.10