After finishing his business in Vesālī, Sudinna returned to Kalanda. He then went to his parents and said, “Mom and dad, the way I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, it’s not easy for one who lives at home to lead the spiritual life perfectly complete and pure. I want to cut off my hair and beard, put on the ocher robes, and go forth into homelessness. Please give me permission to go forth.” “But, Sudinna, you’re our only child, and we love you dearly. You live in comfort and we care for you. You don’t have any suffering. Even if you died we wouldn’t want to lose you. So how can we allow you to go forth into homelessness while you’re still living?” Sudinna asked his parents a second