"O Tathāgata, our Lord and Master, what conduct toward women dost thou prescribe to the samanas who have left the world?" 2
And the Blessed One said: 3
"Guard against looking on a woman. 4
"If ye see a woman, let it be as though ye saw her not, and have no conversation with her. 5
"If, after all, ye must speak with her, let it be with a pure heart, and think to yourself, 'I as a samana will live in this sinful world as the spotless leaf of the lotus, unsoiled by the mud in which it grows.' 6
"If the woman be old, regard her as your mother, if young, as your sister, if very young, as your child. 7
"The samana who looks on a woman as a woman, or touches her as a woman, has broken his vow and is no longer a disciple of the Tathāgata. 8
"The power of lust is great with men, and is to be feared withal; take then the bow of earnest perseverance, and the sharp arrow-points of wisdom. 9
"Cover your heads with the helmet of right thought, and fight with fixed resolve against the five desires. 10
"Lust beclouds a man's heart, when it is confused with woman's beauty, and the mind is dazed. 11