{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn7.20/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn7.20","id":"suttacentral_sn7.20","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn7.20/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. Then a brahmin almsman went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, both you and I are almsmen. What, then, is the difference between us?\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t become an almsman just by begging alms from others. One who has undertaken domestic duties has not yet become a mendicant. But one living a spiritual life who has banished both merit and evil, and wanders having appraised the world, is said to be a mendicant.\u201d When he had spoken, the brahmin almsman said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! \u2026 From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"An Almsman","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":135}