So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. The naked ascetic Kassapa saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. He went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side and said to the Buddha, “I’d like to ask the worthy Gotama about a certain point, if you’d take the time to answer.” “Kassapa, it’s the wrong time for questions. We’ve entered an inhabited area.”

A second time, and a third time, Kassapa spoke to the Buddha and the Buddha replied. When this was said, Kassapa said to the Buddha, “I don’t want to ask much.” “Ask what you wish, Kassapa.”