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the monks. Some days his total sustenance for the day would be a single orange. Some days he would receive no food at all. The first day Candasaro Bhikkhu went for his almsround he came back with an empty bowl. The second day was no better. He began to wonder: "Even when a man has sacrificed all worldview pleasure to practice the Precepts and perpetuate Buddhism— is it his lot to starve for his cause?" Thoughts of death entered his mind again but they did not upset him. He thought: "At least if I starve to death through the hard-heartedness of these city-folk, I will be a martyr stirring them to pity so that the rest of my brethren might have sufficient food in the future." On the third day he went for alms again. This time he received a ladleful of rice and a banana. Weak and fatigued from two days on an empty stomach, Candasaro Bhikkhu made his weary way back to his room. That day he sat down to take his meal at the door of his room. As he was reflecting upon his food, a mangy, stray mongrel meandered into view — so emaciated that its bones seemed to show through its skin. It had obviously been starving for days. Today might be its last. Candasaro threw the remainder of his alms to the dog and made the solemn wish: "Through the power of this generosity in the face of such adversity, may starvation never again cross 1. from ibid. p.6