But how does a brother live as an island unto himself, as a refuge unto himself, taking none other as his refuge? How does he live with the Norm as his island, with the Norm as his refuge, taking none other as his refuse?
Herein a brother, as to the body, as to feelings, as to thought, as to ideas, continues so to look upon these that he remains ardent, self-possessed and mindful, that he may overcome both the hankering and the dejection common in the world. Thus is it, brethren, that a brother lives as an island and as a refuge unto himself … with the Norm as an island and as a refuge, having no other refuge.
28. Keep to your own pastures, brethren, walk in the haunts where your fathers roamed. If ye so walk, ye shall grow in length of years, ye shall grow in comeliness, ye shall grow in happiness, ye shall grow in wealth, ye shall grow in power.
And what is the meaning of length of years to a brother? Herein that a brother practises the Four Roads to Iddhi,[1] to wit, action, effort, and concentration applied to desire, to energy, to [the whole] consciousness, and to investigation. From practising and developing these Four Roads, he may, if he so desire, live on for an aeon, or the remainder of an æon. This is the meaning of length of years to a brother.
And what is the meaning of comeliness to a brother? Herein, that a brother live in the practice of right conduct, restrained according to the Rules of the Order, perfect in behaviour and habitude; he sees danger in the least of the things he should avoid and, taking the precepts[2] on himself, he trains himself therein. This is comeliness for a brother.
And what is the meaning of happiness for a brother? Herein, that a brother estranged from lusts, aloof from evil dispositions, enters into and remains in the First Jhāna—a state of zest and ease born of detachment, application and persistence of attention going on the while. Then suppressing all application and persist-
