Buddha then said to Rahula; “ Go thou to Vimalakirti to inquire after his health.” Rahula replied to Buddha and said : “ O Blessed One, I am not worthy to go and inquire after his health. And why ? I remember one day the sons of the wealthy householders of Vaisali came to me with bowed heads and questioned me : ‘ Well, O Rahula, thou art the only son of Buddha who has relinquished the throne of a Cakravartin king and hast renounced the world for the purpose of attaining enlightenment. Now tell us what are the advantages of renunciation according to the doctrine.’ “At that time Vimalakirti came to me and said: ‘Well, O Rahula, thou shouldst not preach to them the advantages of renunciation. And why ? Not to have any advantages or merits — this is renunciation. It is a created thing of which we can speak as having any advantages or merits; but renunciation is an uncreated thing, and in an uncreated thing, there are neither advantages nor merits to talk about. O Rahula, renunciation is neither this nor that nor between. It is beyond the sixty-two heresies. It abides in Nirvana attained by the intelligent only. It is walked by the saints alone. If you could subdue evil ones, transcend the five paths of existence, purify the five sights, acquire the five powers, establish the five faculties, were not annoyed by outside things; if you could deliver one from all kinds of wickedness, crush all the heresies, go beyond the unsubstantiality of names, be emerged from muddy pollution; if you were without attachment, free from the idea of possession, free from clinging, not disturbed, and could feel inward joy, watch over others, abide in contemplation, and keep yourself away from all faults : — if you could do these, then you would be said to have true renunciation.’ “ Vimalakirti then spoke to the sons of the wealthy householders and said : ‘ Ye shall practise renunciation according to the true law. And why ? Buddha is seldom seen in this world.’ The sons of the wealthy householders said : ‘ O Sir, we have heard that Buddha said that if it were not permitted by parents no one could renounce the world.’ Vimalakirti said : ‘ Well, yet if ye cherished the thought of supreme enlightenment this is renunciation, this is perfect fulfilment. At that time thirty-two sons of the wealthy householders all cherished the thought of supreme enlightenment. Therefore, I am not worthy to go and inquire after his health.”

The Lord Buddha yet again enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? May an Arhat (having attained to absolute quiescence of mind) thus meditate...

Then Gautama went to the king's place, and when he had come to him, the king offered him proper respect. In the morning the king went out on his way...

The Lord Buddha addressed Subhuti, saying: “What think you? When the Lord Buddha was a disciple of Dipankara Buddha, was there bequeathed to him any...

Upon that occasion, the venerable Subhuti occupied a place in the midst of the assembly. Rising from his seat, with cloak arranged in such manner...