“Truly from the Exalted One comes all our wisdom.” And because he was so near the Blessed One many monks would come to the venerable Ananda and say: “It is long, brother, since we heard a discourse from the Exalted One. It were very good if we might hear one now.” “Well, venerable ones, betake yourselves to the hermitage of the Brahman Rammako. Perhaps you will get to hear a discourse from the lips of the Exalted One.” For Ananda was wise in the ways of the Master. Now after the Perfected One had returned from his begging-round, he turned and said: “Come, Ananda, let us go to the East Grove, to the terrace of the Mother of Migara, and stay there until the evening.” So they went, and when he had finished his meditation he turned to the venerable Ananda: “Come, Ananda, let us to the Old Bath and refresh our limbs.” So they went. Then the beloved Ananda addressed the Perfected One thus: “The hermitage of the Brahman Rammako, Master, is not far from here. It is pleasantly situated in peaceful solitude. Good were it if the Master should betake himself there.” And the Blessed One signified by silence his assent. And there they found many monks in edifying discourse. And he waited till they were done, and cleared his throat and rapped at the knocker, and they opened the door, and the World-Honoured entered in and seated himself and incited and gladdened them all with great and high discourse. So they got what they needed, for very wise was the beloved Ananda in dealing with the Master. Amazing indeed were the experiences of those who followed the Lord, and not to be understood of those who have not stood face to face with Truth and Love unveiled and terrible in beauty, and terrible also in the loves they inspire. What can words avail? And where he went the Awakened One strewed little precepts like flowers, easy for a child to remember yet each an upward spiral on the Way. “If all knew the fruits of alms-giving as I, monks, know them, most surely they would not eat the last least mouthful without dividing it with another.” And they answered, “Even so, Lord,” and gave of their food, living in peace amidst the Transient, until even its semblance should pass for ever away. And nothing else than food had they to give, being monks. And one asked of the learned nun Dhammadhina: “And how, venerable Lady,—how and what has the Blessed One taught about the arising of the false ego in the beginning of things? How came it to be? What does he teach of this?” “It is the lust of life that sows repeated being in successive lives.” “And how is the annihilation of the false ego to be attained, Venerable Lady? How has the Exalted One taught?” “Even by the complete annihilation, rejection, and driving forth of the lust of life—this is what was taught by the Exalted One.” So answered the nun Dhammadhina. “Even through the breaking of any attachment to the Transient.”