The Forest Monk

Sutta Nipata I.3

Khaggavisana Sutta

A Rhinoceros Horn

Renouncing violence
for all living beings,
harming not even a one,
you would not wish for offspring,    so how a companion?


Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

For a sociable person
there are allurements;
on the heels of allurement, this pain.
Seeing allurement's drawback,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

One whose mind
is enmeshed in sympathy
for friends & companions,
neglects the true goal.
Seeing this danger in intimacy,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Like spreading bamboo,
    entwined,
is concern for offspring & spouses.
Like a bamboo sprout,
    unentangling,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

As a deer in the wilds,
    unfettered,
goes for forage wherever it wants:
the wise person, valuing freedom,
wanders alone, a rhinoceros horn.

In the midst of companions
-- when staying at home,
    when going out wandering --
you are prey to requests.
Valuing the freedom
that no one else covets,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

There is sporting & love
in the midst of companions,
& abundant fondness for offspring.
    Feeling disgust
at the prospect of parting
from those who'd be dear,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Without irritation in all four directions,
content with whatever you get,
enduring troubles with no dismay,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

They are hard to please,
some of those gone forth,
as well as those living the household life.
Shedding concern
for these offspring of others,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Cutting off the householder's marks,
    like a kovilara tree
    that has shed its leaves,
the prudent one, cutting all household ties,
wanders alone, a rhinoceros horn.

If you gain a mature companion,
a fellow traveler, right-living & wise,
overcoming all dangers
    go with him, gratified,
    mindful.

If you don't gain a mature companion,
a fellow traveler, right-living & wise,
    go alone
like a king renouncing his kingdom,
like the elephant in the Matanga wilds,
    his herd.

We praise companionship
    -- yes!
Those on a par, or better,
should be chosen as friends.
If they're not to be found,
    living faultlessly,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Seeing radiant bracelets of gold,
well-made by a smith,
    clinking, clashing,
    two on an arm,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn,

[Thinking:]
"In the same way,
if I were to live with another,
there would be careless talk or abusive."
Seeing this future danger,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Because sensual pleasures,
elegant, honeyed, & charming,
bewitch the mind with their manifold forms --
seeing this drawback in sensual strands --
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

"Calamity, tumor, misfortune,
disease, an arrow, a danger for me."
Seeing this danger in sensual strands,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Cold & heat, hunger & thirst,
wind & sun, horseflies & snakes:
enduring all these, without exception,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

As a great white elephant,
with massive shoulders,
renouncing his herd,
lives in the wilds wherever he wants,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

"There's no way
that one delighting in company
can touch even momentary release."

Heeding the Solar Kinsman's words,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Transcending the contortion of views,
    the sure way attained,
    the path gained,
[realizing:]
"Unled by others,
I have knowledge arisen,"
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

With no greed, no deceit,
no thirst, no hypocrisy --
    delusion & blemishes
        blown away --
with no inclinations for all the world,
            every world,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Avoid the evil companion
    disregarding the goal,
    intent on the out-of-tune way.
Don't take as a friend
someone heedless & hankering.
Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Consort with one who is learned,
    who maintains the Dhamma,
    a great & quick-witted friend.
Knowing the meanings,
subdue your perplexity,
[then] wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Free from longing, finding no pleasure
in the world's sport, love, or sensual bliss,
abstaining from adornment,
speaking the truth,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Abandoning offspring, spouse,
father, mother,
riches, grain, relatives,
& sensual pleasures
    altogether,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

"This is a bondage, a baited hook.
There's little happiness here,
next to no satisfaction,
all the more suffering & pain."
Knowing this, circumspect,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Shattering fetters,
like a fish in the water tearing a net,
like a fire not coming back to what's burnt,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Eyes downcast, not footloose,
senses guarded, with protected mind,
not oozing -- not burning -- with lust,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Taking off the householder's marks,
    like a coral tree
    that has shed its leaves,
going forth in the ochre robe,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Showing no greed for flavors, not careless,
going from house to house for alms,
with mind unenmeshed in this family or that,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Abandoning barriers to awareness,
expelling all defilements -- all --
non-dependent, cutting aversion,
            allurement,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Turning your back on pleasure & pain,
as earlier with sorrow & joy,
attaining pure equanimity,
            tranquillity,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

With persistence aroused
for the highest goal's attainment,
with mind unsmeared, not lazy in action,
firm in effort, with steadfastness & strength arisen,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Not neglecting seclusion, absorption,
constantly living the Dhamma
    in line with the Dhamma,
comprehending the danger
in states of becoming,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Intent on the ending of craving & heedful,
learned, mindful, not muddled,
certain -- having reckoned the Dhamma --
    & striving,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Unstartled,     like a lion at sounds.
Unsnared,     like the wind in a net.
Unsmeared, like a lotus in water:
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Like a lion -- forceful, strong in fang,
living as a conqueror, the king of beasts --
resort to a solitary dwelling.
Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

At the right time consorting
with the release through good will,
            compassion,
            appreciation,
            equanimity,
unobstructed by all the world,
        any world,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

Having let go of passion,
            aversion,
            delusion;
having shattered the fetters;
undisturbed at the ending of life,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.

People follow & associate
    for a motive.
Friends without a motive these days
    are rare.
They're shrewd for their own ends, & impure.
Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.