A wilderness monk should practice meditation to realize the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form. There are those who will question a wilderness monk about the formless liberations. If he is stumped, there’ll be some who say: ‘What’s the point of this wilderness venerable’s staying alone and autonomous in the wilderness, since he is stumped by a question about the formless liberations?’ That’s why a wilderness monk should practice meditation to realize the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form.

A wilderness monk should practice meditation to realize the superhuman state. There are those who will question a wilderness monk about the superhuman state. If he is stumped, there’ll be some who say: ‘What’s the point of this wilderness venerable’s staying alone and autonomous in the wilderness, since he doesn’t know the goal for which he went forth?’ That’s why a wilderness monk should practice meditation to realize the superhuman state.” When Venerable Sāriputta said this, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said to him, “Reverend Sāriputta, should these things be undertaken and followed only by wilderness monks, or by those who live within a village as well?” “Reverend Moggallāna, these things should be undertaken and followed by wilderness monks, and still more by those who live within a village.”

Middle Discourses 70 At Kīṭāgiri