In the course of development of many religions, stratification occurred among the believers - some people, being sincere believers, lived an ordinary secular life, gave birth to children, took care of the household, or occupied themselves with their temporal affairs, others combined secular life with service to their God - priests, clergy-men - religious elite, it reaped the fruits of secular life and also enjoyed power and religious admiration of people. But there were always those who wanted to devote all their life, all their deeds and intentions to the Supreme Lord. They became monks or, if the church regulations did not suit them, hermits. Practically all saints known in the history were monks or hermits. There were also the saints among the priests and clergy-men, but it should be noted that they led monastic way of life. Mainly it concerns their treatment of life. It is not possible to serve the riches, material well-being, interests in family and in social status, and the God at the same time. Of course, there were saints also among laymen, but it depended upon their life standpoint.

Let us look, why people were always engaged in spiritual practice and became monks. What made them do it? What did they strive for?

The following Buddhist Sutra narrates the story of a disciple of Buddha Sakyamuni.

Ratthapala Sutra.

I had occasion to hear the following story:

One day Buddha together with great number of men and women acquiring extensive Knowledge and aspiring to the deliverance from temporal desires, was journeying through the country Kuru and reached the town named Thullakotthita. At that time the priests and house owners heard the people saying:

• His Holiness Gautama, who had come from the Sakya clan and had become a monk, together with great number of men and women, acquiring extensive knowledge and aspiring to the deliverance from temporal desires, was journeying through Kuru and reached a town named Thullakotthita, and he is very well known. This All-Enlightened Oneed person is verily a soul, worthy of donation, the one who has reached the highest true All-Enlightened Oneing, wisdom and merit, who is going to the highest world, who has known all worlds, and who is an unsurpassed mentor of mere mortals, tutor of gods, who has All-Enlightened Oneed to the Truth, and who is most venerable. And he knew of his own, appeared in, and tells about various worlds, including heaven, the world of demons, Holy Heaven, and also about monks, priests, and gods. His preachings and principles are good in the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. He explains the holy spiritual practice. We are happy to have met him, worthy of donation.

So, the priests and house owners of Thullakotthita came there, where the All-Enlightened One was. When people came, some of them offered prayers and sat down aside, others greeted the All-Enlightened One, started a pleasant conversation, and sat down aside, yet others folded their palms, directing them to the All-Enlightened One, and sat down aside, some people pronounced their names and sat down aside, some simply sat down aside without a word.

The All-Enlightened One preached, taught, admonished, and strongly inspired, giving a great pleasure to priests and house owners of Thullakotthita. Among those present, there was the virtuous man Ratthapala, coming from the most representative clan of Thullakotthita.

He thought:

- It is difficult for me to stay a practicing layman if I want to comprehend the law, preached by the All-Enlightened One, and set to the holy practice, the most perfect, the most pure, shimmering like a pearl. I shall shave off my hair and beard, put on monastic clothes and turn from a practicing layman into a monk who has renounced family life.

So, the priests and house owners of Thullakotthita, having heard the preaching, teaching and admonition, were animated infinitely, took a delight in the preaching of the All-Enlightened One, stood up, honored the All-Enlightened One, passing round him, and, turning the right shoulder toward him, went away.

Some time later, when the priests and house owners of Thullakotthita had gone away, the virtuous man Ratthapala came to see the All-Enlightened One. Upon arrival, the virtuous man Ratthapala offered prayers to the All-Enlightened One, sat down not far away, and began the following conversation with the All-Enlightened One:

- Oh, the All-Enlightened One! It is difficult for me to stay a practicing layman if I want to comprehend the law, preached by the All-Enlightened One, and to engage in the holy practice, the most perfect, the most pure, gleaming like a pearl. Please, allow me to renounce my family life, to come to you and receive the commandments.

- Ratthapala, but have you received permission from your parents to leave the secular life and to become a man who has renounced his family life?

- Oh, the All-Enlightened One! I have not received permission from my parents to leave the secular life and to become a man who has renounced his family life.

- Ratthapala! The victor in the truth does not permit to repudiate the family life to a man who has not received parental permission.

- Oh, the All-Enlightened One! Then I shall go to my parents and persuade them to give me the permission to leave secular life and to become a man who has renounced his family life.

After that the virtuous man Ratthapala rose, honored the All-Enlightened One, passed round him, turning the right shoulder toward him, and returned to his parents' home. Upon arrival, he said thus to his parents:

- My father and my mother! It is difficult for me to remain a practicing layman if I want to comprehend the law preached by the All-Enlightened One and to engage in the holy practice. Please, allow me to change from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life.

Upon hearing that, his parents said to him:

- Ratthapala! You are our only son, the most loved and the most clever son. You had a happy life, you grew up surrounded with happiness. Ratthapala, what has made you suffer? Please, eat, drink, and live full life, eat, drink, live full life, and practice to find merit allowing to become happy, for you are worthy of delight. We do not permit you to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life. Since we don't want to part with you even after our death, then how can we allow you, as long as you live, to change from a layman into a monk?

Then Rathapala pronounced the same words for the second time. Hearing it, the parents of the virtuous man Ratthapala answered what they have said earlier. Ratthapala pronounced the same for the third time:

- My father and my mother! It is difficult for me to remain a practicing layman if I want to comprehend the law, preached by the All-Enlightened One, and to engage in the holy practice. Please, allow me to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life.

Hearing it, the parents of the virtuous man Ratthapala repeated the same that they said for the first time.

Then Ratthapala, not having succeeded in getting the parents' permission, lay on the ground:

- I have nothing else left but to die or to renounce family life.

Then the parents of Ratthapala told him:

- Ratthapala! You are our only son, the most loved and the most clever son. You had a happy life, you grew up surrounded with happiness. Ratthapala, what has made you suffer? Please, eat, drink, and live full life, eat, drink, live full life, and practice to find merit allowing to become happy, for you are worthy of delight. We do not permit you to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life. Since we don't want to part with you even after our death, then how can we allow you, as long as you live, to change from a layman into a monk?

Hearing it, the virtuous man Ratthapala did not utter a word. Then his parents addressed him for the second time, but the virtuous man Ratthapala did not utter a word. The parents tried to persuade the virtuous man Ratthapala once more, but he kept silence.

Then the parents went to his friends and told them:

- Look here, the virtuous man Ratthapala is lying on the ground and saying: "I have nothing else, but to die or to renounce family life". Please, go to him and tell him: "Our friend Ratthapala, you are the only, the most loved and the most clever son of your parents, you grew up, surrounded with happiness. Our friend Ratthapala, what has made you suffer? Please, Ratthapala, eat, drink and live full life, eat, drink, live full life, and practice to find merit allowing to become happy, for you are worthy of delight. Your parents do not permit you to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life. As they do not want to part with you even after death, then how can they allow you, as long as you live, to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life."

The friends of the virtuous man Ratthapala agreed with his parents and went to him. When they came, they said:

- Our friend Ratthapala, you are the only, the most loved and the most clever son of your parents, you grew up, surrounded with happiness. Our friend Ratthapala, what has made you suffer? Please, Ratthapala, eat, drink and live full life, eat, drink, live full life and practice to find merit allowing to become happy, for you are worthy of delight. Your parents do not permit you to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life. As they do not want to part with you even after death, then how can they allow you, as long as you live, to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life.

Hearing it, Ratthapala did not utter a word. Then his friends repeated the same for the second time, but Ratthapala did not answer. The friends addressed him for the third time, but Ratthapala kept silence. Then the friends of the virtuous man Ratthapala went to his parents and said:

After that the friends of the virtuous man Ratthapala went to him and said:

- Your parents have permitted you to change from a layman into a monk, but you must visit them as a man who has renounced family life.

Then Ratthapala rose, cheered up and went to the All-Enlightened One. Upon arrival, he honored the All-Enlightened One and sat down not far away and said:

- Oh, All-Enlightened One, my parents have permitted me to change from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life. Please, permit me to become a monk.

So, the virtuous man Ratthapala has renounced family life, followed the All-Enlightened One and received the commandments.

The All-Enlightened One remained in Thullakotthita as long as he wished and, in approximately for a month after the virtuous man Ratthapala has got the commandments, left for Savatti. He passed various towns one after another and at last reached Savatti. In Savatti the All-Enlightened One put up at the garden Anathupindiki, in the forest Jetta. At that time the pupil of a high degree Ratthapala stayed in solitude, got rid of affections, and spent his time in work, being enthusiastic and assiduous. Soon afterwards, when that virtuous man has changed from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life for the sake of reaching liberation, he also achieved perfection in the holy practice, acquired knowledge, and became well-known in the world. He realized that his life was over, that he completed the holy practice and did everything he had to do, and that there was no necessity at all to take on a new life in that world - in other words, that high-degree pupil became a soul worthy of donation.

After that, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala came to the All-Enlightened One. He sat down not far away from the All-Enlightened One. Sitting not far away, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala addressed to the All-Enlightened One:

- Oh, All-Enlightened One, with Your permission I would like to go and see my parents.

With the help of the divine reading of another one's thoughts, the All-Enlightened One studied the consciousness of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala. The All-Enlightened One realized that Ratthapala would not stop his practice and that he was insured against the fall, and he told the high-degree pupil Ratthapala the following:

- Well, Ratthapala, now it is the time.

Then the high-degree pupil Ratthapala rose, honored the All-Enlightened One, passing round him and turning the right shoulder toward him. Then Ratthapala rolled up his rug, took his clothes and his bowl and started strolling towards Thullakotthita. He passed various towns one after another and, at last, reached the garden of the King in Megasila near Thullakotthita.

Early in the morning the high-level pupil Ratthapala put on his underclothes and went to Thullakotthita. He roamed about the town in the hope of getting a religious donation and came up to his father's home. At that time the father of Ratthapala was sitting in a small arbor near the front door, and the servant was cutting that man’s hair and shaving his beard. Catching sight of a monk, making his way from far away, Ratthapala’s father exclaimed:

- Because of these clean-shaven false monks my only and most loved and clever son has renounced family life.

As a result, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala did not get any donation, he was not even listened to, but simply insulted on the threshold of his father's house.

At that instant the bondmaid of the relatives of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala was going just to throw out yesterday's rice. The high-degree pupil Ratthapala said:

- Daughter, if you are going to throw it out, then throw it in my bowl.

But, while throwing the yesterday's rice in the bowl of Ratthapala, she recognized him by his voice, hands and legs. Then she went to his mother and asked:

- Mistress, do you know, that your son Ratthapala has come back?

- Ah, if you don't lie, then you will be set free from the slavery.

The mother of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala came running to his father and exclaimed:

- Sir, have you heard that Ratthapala, this virtuous man, has come back?

At that time Ratthapala was sitting, leaning against the wall, and eating yesterday's rice. The father of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala came up to him and said;

- Ratthapala, you don't need to eat yesterday's rice. Ratthapala, would you enter in your home?

- Householder, can I really have a home, when I have changed from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life? Householder, I am homeless. Householder, I have come to your house, but I have received neither a donation, nor a possibility to say at least a word. All I got were the insults only.

- Oh, Ratthapala, let us come into the house.

- Householder, think again, I have just completed my meal.

- Then, Ratthapala, take your meal tomorrow morning.

The high-degree pupil Ratthapala agreed silently. The father realized that the high-degree pupil Ratthapala did not reject his request, and came back home. He took a heap of gold coins, wraped it up in a cloth, and told the former wife of Ratthapala:

- Oh, the wife, array yourself in the most beautiful garments, as you used to when the virtuous man Ratthapala loved you and was attached to you.

The night passed. The father of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala ordered to cook the dainty meal and drinks at home and told Ratthapala that the time had come:

- Ratthapala, now it is time, the meal is ready.

So, early in the morning, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala put on his underclothes and, taking the rest of his things, went to the house of his own father. When he came, he sat down on the place reserved for him. Then the father pointed out to a heap of gold coins and told the high-degree pupil Ratthapala:

- Ratthapala, here is money of your mother and also the money of your father and grandfather. Ratthapala, you may take this money and enjoy happiness. So, Ratthapala, stop spiritual practice, return to secular life, take this money, and enjoy happiness.

- Householder, if you want to consider my opinion, load this heap of golden coins on horse-drawn carts and throw it in the river Ganges. Why you should do it? Because these golden coins bring misfortune, sorrow, suffering, strong pain and irritation.

Then the former wife of the high-degree pupil Ratthapala embraced his legs and exclaimed:

- For the sake of which goddess do you engage in sacred practice?
- Sister, I don't engage in sacred practice for the sake of any goddess.

- Sister? Oh, why my husband Ratthapala calls me so? - saying it, the wife lost consciousness.

Then the high-degree pupil Ratthapala addressed his father:

- Householder, if you want to donate food, then do it. And, please, don't worry about anything else.

- Eat, Ratthapala, eat, the meal is ready.

And the father endowed the dainty meal from his own hands.

Finishing the meal, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala put the bowl aside, rose and, pointing to the wife, said:

- Look at this idle head, its hair is divided in parts and collected in buns, it is ill, teeming with thoughts, but among them there is no one eternal or constant. Look at this dressed up body, it is adorned with jewels and ear-rings, oh, but these are simply wrapped up in beautiful clothing the skin and the bones. To color legs in red and powder the face suits the fools and the ignorant, but the one who is going to cross to the other side of the river. To divide hair in eight parts and beautify one’s eyes suits the fools and the ignorant, but not the one who is going to cross to the other side of the river. Coloring the body with the putrid odor like a new cotton wool suits the fools and the ignorant, but not a person who is going to cross to the other side of the river.

So, saying it, the high-degree pupil Ratthapala made his way to the garden of the King of Koravia in Megasila. Having come to that place, he took a seat under a tree to rest after the meal.

At that time the king of Megasila ordered a hunter:

- Hunter, cleanse my palace garden in Megasila. When you cleanse it, I shall come to see it.

- I shall do it, Grand King.

And then he, carrying out the order of the King of Koravia, saw Ratthapala resting under a tree after the meal. The hunter came up to the King and said:

- My Grand King, when I was cleansing the garden in Megasila, I saw the worthy man named Ratthapala, coming from the best clan of Thullakotthita, the man, you, my Grand King, used to praise, is sitting now under a tree and having a rest.

- Hunter, let's call it a day. I am going to make a donation to the honorable Ratthapala.

The King of Koravia ordered to endow all cooking viands and drinks.

After that he ordered to prepare many splendid horse-drawn vehicles, got in one of them and, in the head of the beautiful adorned horse-draw vehicles, he made his way to Thullakotthita to meet like a king the high-degree pupil Ratthapala.

He reached the place where the horse-draw vehicles could reach, got off the horse-drawn vehicle and walked, ordering his subjects to remain behind. He came to see the high-degree pupil Ratthapala. He greeted him and started a pleasant and delightful conversation with him, then he stepped aside. Standing nearby, the King of Koravia told the high-level pupil Ratthapala:

- Honorable Ratthapala, please, take the place on this carpet with the elephant embroidered on it.

- No, no, Grand King, please, sit down on it yourself, I have my own rug.

Thus, the King of Koravia sat down on the carpet and addressed the high-level pupil Ratthapala with following words:

- Honorable Ratthapala, there are four kinds of loss: people who have these four kinds of loss shave the hair and beard, put on monastic clothes, and change from laymen into monks, renouncing family life. What are these four kinds of scarcities? It is loss entailing from coming of old age, loss entailing from coming of illnesses, loss of wealth, and loss of relatives. What is the loss entailing from approach of the old age? Suppose, honorable Ratthapala, that a certain man lived a long life, grew old, aged, reached a venerable age, and entered the last period of his life. He contemplates the following: "I have lived a long life, grew old, aged, reached a venerable age, and entered the last period of my life. It is already difficult for me to get the money which I have not gotten yet, to increase the sum I have just now, therefore I will shave my hair and beard, don monastic clothes, and change from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life." In other words, the loss entailing from approaching old age made him shave his hair and beard, don monastic clothes, and to change from a layman into a monk. But, honorable Ratthapala, you are still young and fresh, you have black hair, you only begin to live, and you have a happy youth. In other words, you don’t have a loss entailing from approaching old age. Then, what has honorable Ratthapala realized, seen, heard that has made him change from a layman into a monk? Now, what is a loss entailing from coming of illnesses? Suppose that a certain man has become ill, he suffers from a serious illness. He contemplates in the following way: "I have fallen ill and suffer from a serious illness, now I am already unable to get the money I have not yet gained and to increase the sum I have just now, therefore I will shave my hair and beard, don monastic clothes and change from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life." In other words, the loss entailing from coming of illnesses made him become a monk. But you, honorable Ratthapala, are not ill, you are healthy, you have good digestion, you feel neither cold, nor hot, in other words, you are not affected by the loss entailing from coming of illnesses. Then, honorable Ratthapala, what have you realized, seen, heard that has made you change from a layman into a monk?

Now, what is a loss of wealth? Suppose, honorable Ratthapala, that a certain man was rich, had plenty of money and wealth, but gradually his money was becoming less and less, and he contemplates in the following way: "Once I was rich, I had plenty of money and wealth, but gradually my money was becoming less and less, now I am already unable to get the money I have not yet gained and to increase the sum I have just now, therefore I will shave my hair and beard, robe myself in monastic clothes and change from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life." In other words, the loss of money made him become a monk. Honorable Ratthapala, this is the loss of wealth, but you, honorable Ratthapala, come from the best clan of Thullakotthita. In other words, you don’t have the loss of wealth. Then, honorable Ratthapala, what have you realized, seen, heard that has made you change from a layman into a monk? Now, honorable Ratthapala, what is a loss of relations? Suppose that a man had many friends and relatives, but gradually he lost his relatives. He contemplates in the following way: "Once I had many friends and relatives, but gradually I lost my relatives, now it is difficult for me to gain the money I have not yet gained and to increase the sum I have just now, therefore I will shave my hair and beard, don monastic clothes and change from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life." In other words, the loss of relations made him become a monk. Honorable Ratthapala, this is the loss of relations, but you, honorable Ratthapala, have many friends and relatives in Thullakotthita, in other words, you done have the loss of relations. Then, what has honorable Ratthapala realized, seen, heard that has forced him to change from a layman into a monk?

- Grand King, the wise All-Enlightened One possessing a true view and a soul worthy of the donation who has reached the highest true All-Enlightened Oneing named four laws: I realized it, I saw it, I heard it and I changed from a layman into a monk, renouncing family life. What are these four laws? “This world is ruled by impermanence.” That is, Grand King, the first law pointed out by the wise All-Enlightened One. “There is neither a protector nor a preserver in this world.” That is, Grand King, the second law pointed out by the wise All-Enlightened One. “There is nothing in this world worthy of possession, and everything must be left behind.” That is, Grand King, the third law pointed out by the wise All-Enlightened One. “In this world we cannot be fully satisfied, we never get tired of this world, and we are the slaves of craving.” That is, Grand King, the fourth law pointed out by the wise All-Enlightened One. I have realized it, seen it, heard it, and changed from a layman into a monk.

- Honorable Ratthapala said: “This world is ruled by impermanence.” Honorable Ratthapala, what do you mean by that?

• And what do you think yourself, Grand King, when you were twenty-twenty five, were not you fond of elephants and horses, didn't you drive chariots, didn't you have strong hands, and didn't you take pleasure on the battlefield?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I really keened on elephants and horses, drove chariots, used the sword and the bow with arrows, my legs were firm and hands were strong, and I took pleasure on the battlefield, honorable Ratthapala, at that time it seemed to me, that I possessed supernatural abilities and that there were no other man stronger than me.

- And now, Grand King, are your legs so firm and hands so strong and do you take pleasure on the battlefield?

- No, honorable Ratthapala, I have lived a long life, grew old, aged, reached a venerable age, and entered the last period of my life, I am eighty now. Now and then I want to put my foot on one place, but it gets on another place.

- That's why, Grand King, the wise All-Enlightened One taught that this world is ruled by impermanence. I realized it, saw it, heard it, and changed from a layman into a monk.

- It is amazing, honorable Ratthapala, it is astounding, honorable Ratthapala, the wise All-Enlightened One, possessing a right view, with the soul worthy of donation, who had reached the highest right awakening, has taught correctly: this world is ruled by impermanence. Honorable Ratthapala, this world is really moved by impermanence. Honorable Ratthapala, the king's family owns plenty of elephants and horses, many horse-drawn vehicles and soldiers, they guard me against sufferings and difficulties, but honorable Ratthapala said: “There is neither a protector nor a preserver in this world.” What do you mean by that?

- And what do you think yourself, Grand King, do you suffer from a chronic illness?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I suffer from the chronic wind-illness. Sometimes my friends and relatives gather around me and say: "The King of Koravia is going to die, the King of Koravia is goind to die."

- Grand King, can you tell your friends and relatives: " My friends and relatives, come up to me, my suffering must be divided between you in order to abate my pain and suffering". Or else you must suffer in isolation?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I cannot tell my friends and relatives: "My friends and relatives, come up to me, my sufferings must be divided between you in order to abate my pain and suffering". I must suffer all myself.

• Grand King, that's why the wise All-Enlightened One has taught: “There is neither a protector nor a preserver in this world.” I realized it, saw it, heard it and changed from a layman into a monk.

- It is amazing, honorable Ratthapala, it is astounding, honorable Ratthapala, the wise All-Enlightened One, possessing a right view, with a soul worthy of donation, who had reached the highest right awakening, has taught correctly: “There is neither a protector, nor a preserver in this world.” Honorable Ratthapala, there is really neither a protector nor a preserver in this world. Honorable Ratthapala, the royal family owns a lot of gold kept in the attic and under ground, but the honorable Ratthapala said: “There is nothing in this world worthy of owning, everything must be left behind.” What do you mean by that?

- And what do you think yourself, Grand King? If you satisfy desires of five senses, take pleasure, experience delight, then can you say of your life the following: "I shall satisfy desires of five senses, obtain satisfaction, experience delight". Or, all your money will fall to lot of other people and you yourself will reincarnate in accordance with your karma?

- Honorable Ratthapala, if I satisfy desires of five senses, obtain satisfaction, experience delight, then I cannot say about my next life the following: "I shall satisfy desires of five senses, obtain satisfaction, experience delight." My money will fall to lot of other people and I will reincarnate in accordance with my karma.

- Grand King, that's why the wise All-Enlightened One has taught: “There is nothing in this world worthy of possession and all must be left behind.” I realized it, saw it, heard it, and changed from a layman into a monk.

- It is amazing, honorable Ratthapala, it is astounding, honorable Ratthapala, the wise All-Enlightened One, possessing the right view, with the soul worthy of donation, who had reached the highest right awakening, has taught: “There is nothing in this world worthy of possession and everything must be left behind.” Honorable Ratthapala, there is really nothing in this world worthy of possession and everything must be left behind. However, then the honorable Ratthapala said: “We cannot obtain complete satisfaction, we never will be tired of this world and we are slaves of craving.” What do your words mean?

- And what do you think yourself, Grand King, don't you live in the prosperous country of Koravia?

- Yes, honorable Ratthapala, I live in the prosperous country of Koravia.

- And after all, Grand King, assuming that from the East came an honest man, worthy of trust. And now he comes to see you and says: "Grand King, do you know that I have come from the East, where is a mighty prosperous highly populated country with plenty of elephants and horses, chariots and solders, ivory and gold, golden goods and many women. This country can be conquered. Grand King, conquer it!" So, what would you do in this case?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I would conquer it and settle there.

- Well, Grand King, assuming that from the West came an honest man, worthy of trust. And now he comes to see you and says: "Grand King, do you know, that I have come from the West, where is a mighty prosperous highly populated country with plenty of elephants and horses, chariots and solders, ivory and gold, golden goods and many women. This country can be conquered. Grand King, conquer it!" So, what would you do in this case?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I would conquer it and settle there.

- Well, Grand King, assuming that from the North arrived an honest man, worthy of trust. And now he comes to see you and says: "Grand King, do you know, that I have come from the North, where is a mighty prosperous highly populated country with plenty of elephants and horses, chariots and solders, ivory and gold, golden goods and many women. This country can be conquered. Grand King, conquer it!" So, what would you do in this case?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I would conquer it and settle there.

- Well, Grand King, assuming that from the South arrived an honest man, worthy of trust. And now he comes to see you and says: "Grand King, do you know that I have come from the South, where is a mighty prosperous highly populated country with plenty of elephants and horses, chariots and solders, ivory and gold, golden goods and many women. This country can be conquered. Grand King, conquer it!" So, what would you do in this case?

- Honorable Ratthapala, I would conquer it and settle there.

- Grand King, that's why the wise All-Enlightened One with the soul worthy of donation, who has reached the highest right awakening, has taught: “We cannot obtain complete satisfaction in this world, we will never be tired of this world and we are slaves of craving.” Grand King, I realized it, saw it, heard it, and changed from a layman into a monk who has renounced family life.

- It is amazing, honorable Ratthapala, it is astounding, honorable Ratthapala, the wise All-Enlightened One, possessing the right view, with the soul worthy of donation, who has reached the highest right awakening, has taught correctly: “We will never be tired of this world and we are slaves of craving.”

After giving these teachings Ratthapala said:

- After looking at rich people of the society, I found out that ignorant people do not make donations, even if they become rich, greedy people save up money, and their desires and greediness are unlimited, the kings rule by force in this world, and their properties stretch right up to the ocean, they are not content with the dominion on this side of the ocean, they want to rule over lands also on the other side of the ocean, the kings and many other people do not get rid of longing and are doomed to death, they cast away their body with the feeling of dissatisfaction. It is impossible to satisfy desires in this world, relatives tear their hair and cry out: "Oh, how I want to be immortal!" They bring a heap of dry logs and burn the dead body. Man parts with all his savings, he is robed in the only clothing, he is roasted like a bit of flesh and is consumed by fire. And neither relatives nor friends, nor acquaintances cannot protect the deceased, the money will be taken by the heirs, and people take on a new life according to their karma. The corpse would not take either money or the wife, or children, or wealth, or properties. The wealth is short lived, and it doesn't save from old age. The sages say: “Life is short, it is inconstant and is ruled by the law of changes, both the rich man and the poor man reach to the after-death world, as well as sages and fools do. The foolishness will conquer fools and throw them down on the ground. As for sages, they wouldn't be frightened, even if that meeting with the after-death world takes place. That's why wisdom surpasses savings, wisdom allows us to reach perfection. Without perfection in existence and non-existence, ignorant people accumulate bad karma, one after another they reincarnate, find themselves in the womb, and are born in other worlds. The beings are like thieves taken by surprise on the threshold of a house, who suffer from their own karma and following a bad law. After death, in other worlds they will suffer from their own karma of following a bad law. There are various desires and pleasures, they are like the honey - they give pleasure and disturb the intellect by different external form. Grand King, having experienced difficulties and sufferings, caused by desires and pleasures, I have renounced family life. Like ripe fruits, falling from a tree, bodies get broken of both young and old people. I have also seen it, and that made me renounce family life, I realized that the path of a spiritual practitioner is higher.

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