The Tathagata is a teacher of the path, Brahmin. Upon hearing this, the Brahmin Ganaka Moggallana said to the Blessed One: Those individuals, O Gotama, who lack faith and leave the household life for homelessness out of desire for livelihood, who are deceitful, fraudulent, pretentious, impulsive, talkative, loose-spoken, unguarded in their senses, immoderate in eating, not devoted to wakefulness, indifferent in solitude, not taking training seriously, lazy, leading in negligence, lacking energy, forgetful, lacking awareness, uncollected, with scattered minds, lacking wisdom, foolish, do not live with you, Gotama.
But those noble sons who have faith and leave the household life for homelessness, who are not deceitful, not fraudulent, not pretentious, not impulsive, not talkative, not loose-spoken, guarded in their senses, moderate in eating, devoted to wakefulness, diligent in solitude, serious about training, energetic, established in mindfulness, aware, collected, with unified minds, wise, not foolish, live with you, Gotama. Just as, O Gotama, among all root fragrances, black musk is considered the best; among all sap fragrances, red sandalwood is considered the best; among all flower fragrances, jasmine is considered the best; similarly, your advice, O Gotama, is supreme among the highest teachings.
Wonderful, O Gotama, wonderful, O Gotama. Just as one might set upright what had been overturned, reveal what was hidden, show the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see forms; in the same way, you have illuminated the Dhamma in many ways.
I go to the Blessed One Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of disciples.
May the Blessed One Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has taken refuge from today onward for life.