587. The one who wishes for his own good should find out about the teaching of the Buddha. He should also find out about the practice fitting for recluses.
588. Association with noble friends, training in higher virtue, and a desire to listen to the teachers’ advice—these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
589. Respect towards the Buddha, loyalty towards the Dhamma, hospitality towards the community of monks—these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
590. Well-disciplined behaviour, a pure and blameless life, and settling the mind in meditation—these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
591. Knowing proper manners, acting with pleasant postures, and practicing serene and insight meditations, these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
592. Living in secluded, faraway, quiet forest monasteries where sages dwell is very fitting for a recluse’s life.
593. Being virtuous, having vast learning of the Dhamma, investigating the true nature of life and realizing the Four Noble Truths, these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
594. Developing the perception of impermanence, perception of non-self, perception of unattractiveness, and distaste towards the whole world as meditations: these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
595. Developing the enlightenment factors, the bases for supernormal powers, the five spiritual faculties, the five spiritual powers and the Noble Eightfold Path: these good qualities are very fitting for a recluse’s life.
596. The sage abandons craving, uproots the taints with their roots, and lives liberated from everything: these good qualities are very fitting for recluse’s life.
These verses were said by Arahant Apara Gotama.
