Khaggavisāna Sutta | Sn I-3

3. Khaggavisāna Sutta

Discourse on the Lone-farer

35. He has laid down the rod, for he means no harm to all sentient beings. Having won the enlightenment of Paccekabuddha he does not long for son, not to speak of friend. (After his example) keep away from company' fare alone like the rhino's horn. (1)

36. Companionship brings love and the natural ills that love entails. Seeing the blame that love carries, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (2)

37. Companion for friend and beloved ones means binding one's heart with attachment for them. Such attachment works against one's religious goal. Therefore, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (3)

38. The more extensive a-bamboo becomes, the more entangled it gets. Similarly, the more one has regard for wife and children, the stronger the entanglements.

Try to be like the newly spring bamboo without any branch, hence free from any entanglement. Keep away from company; fare alone like he rhino's horn. (4)

39. Like the deer, unbound, roams the forest at will, the wise man, seeing the benefits of freedom bestowed by the lonely life, keeps away from company; fare, alone like the rhino's horn. (5)

40. Once in the midst of companions whether sitting or standing or going about, one is constantly sought after. Seeing the liberty of not being sought after, the wise man keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (6)

41. Once in the midst of companions, one is apt to join them in their sports and enjoy one's self. Fondness for one's children also grows.

The wise man, loathing the hurtfulness that separation from the beloved ones, keeps away from .company, fare alone like the rhino's horn. (7)

42. Contented with whatever fare he collects, with unrestrained good-will towards all in the 4 quarters, he lives at peace.

Immune against the evil forces within (i.e. lust etc.) and those without (i.e. all forms of external dangers), he is not perturbed by any kind of trouble. (After his noble example) keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn (8)

43. He has learnt how hard it is to please certain bhikkhus and laymen. He also has learnt all the loving care extended towards other people's offspring can be quite misplaced.

Hence he keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (9)

44. Casting aside layman's characteristics, he has gone into earnest religious practice, and having been able to cut all mundane bonds by insight-knowledge, as the coral-tree sheds its leaves, keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (10)

45. Should you be fortunate enough to find a friend, wise and profound, abiding well and arduous in religious practice, thus keeping in time with you in the search for Knowledge, you may keep such company.

With such a worthy colleague, you should devote to your pursuit with a happy heart and steady mindfulness, thus overcoming all forms of disturbances and dangers. (11 )

46. If, however, you cannot find a friend, wise and profound, abiding well and equally arduous in religious practice as yourself,

it is better to keep away from company as the monarch leaves behind the land he has conquered; fare alone like the rhino's horn.(12)

47. Certainly, we value true companionship provided that the friend be either your better or your equal in conduct and wisdom who thus is a desirable companion.

But failing to get one, it is better to keep one's livelihood clean and noble, and keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (13)

48. On seeing the constant clashes made by the two glittering gold bangles, well-wrought by the gold smith’s, son, and worn double on a hand, the wise man keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (1 4)

49. Having to talk with a companion, and having to be involved and attached to him, are going to prove to be ill-begotten pursuits in future.

Seeing thus, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (15)

50. Sweet are the pleasures of the senses and wonderful indeed they are. They are ruinous to religious life, for they undermine the bhikkhus mind in various ways.

Seeing their dangers, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (16)

51. These sensuous passions are like calamities, boils, evil liabilities, diseases, darts, and dangers. Seeing their dangers, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (17)

52. Come wind, come weather, he is undaunted. And unshaken by hunger or thirst, climatic whims or hazards of poisonous snakes and hordes of it sects, he keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (18)

53. As the great bull elephant of noble species, lotus coloured, with clean sweep of body, shuns the company of all elephants,

so also the well-meaning bhikkhus, embed with the noble qualities, Paccekabuddha, one should keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (19)

54. Absurd it would be to say that one fond of company can, whilst in his concentration, free himself from defilements.

Paying heed to the weighty words of the Sun's kinsman, the Paccekabuddha, one should keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (20)

55. Having escaped from the poisonous thorns of false views, I have won the Stream, walked the 3 higher Paths and further attained by self-enlightenment, without being taught, Paccakabhodhi-nana, the Insight-Knowledge pertaining to a Paccekabuddha, whoever aspires to Paccakabhodhi-nana should keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (21).

56. Never at fault for levity in livelihood, the Bhikkhu is above scheming, and he does not hanker after food. He is not given to ingratitude.

Being freed from the fetters of the 3 worlds, he keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (22)

57. Avoid the company of lowly persons who are out to see inanity, who are given to vicious conduct, lustful, and slack in virtuous conduct and who are sympathetic to various doctrines.

Such persons should, if you can avoid, be given a wide berth. Keep away from such company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (23)

58. Those learned in the Teaching, and abiding well therein, lofty in conduct and sharp in knowledge, should be consorted with, one should know what is beneficial to one's self, and also expel any doubts about the Teaching.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (24)

59. Not regarding the sensuous pleasures as the prizes of life, and not indulging in frivolities, one should keep aloof from worldly pastimes, nor should one adorn oneself.

And ever remaining truthful, one should keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (25)

60. Forsake children, wife, father, mother, riches and wealth such as produce from one's fields, kinsmen and all worldly possessions that have come under your control.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (26)

61. Sensual pleasures entangle a person. They hold little well and are not worthwhile to indulge in. In fact they are laden with ills. Nay, they are like the hook hidden by the bait.

Seeing thus, the wise man keeps away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (27)

62. Break through all fetters just as a fish would a net. Fire never turns back to a burnt-up thing (spot); likewise never turn back to the home-life you have left behind.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (28)

63. With cast eyes, sedate, and not given to idle rambling; be master of your faculties. Do not let the external defilements be sodden you, nor let the internal defilements burn yon.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (29)

64. Putting away layman's characteristics, renounce your home and don the Bhikkhu’s brown robes like the fine foliage of the coral tree.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (30)

65. Crave not for tastes; be free from frivolity for food. Shun the life of being served with food. Gather your daily alms house to house, never noticing kith or kin.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (31)

66. Get rid of all hindrances of the mind, uproot all inherent defilements that taint the mind. Lean not on false views; cut off clean those unprofitable ties of love.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (32)

67. Turning away from pleasure and pain, joys and gloom have already been ignored. Hence the mind should be in a state of equanimity.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn.(33)

68. With full earnestness strive for Nibbāna. Never falter, never slacken, but be steadfast in your purpose, strong in body and vigorous in mind.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (34)

69. Seek solitude and while not slackening in concentration, keep a constant awareness of the nature of the 5 aggregates.

Contemplating on the hazards of existence in all the 3 spheres, keep away from company, fare alone like the rhino's horn. (35)

70. Will for the end of craving. Don't make a dullard of yourself, but be mentally alert, acquire learning so as to gain insight.

Strive diligently to win the Path which in the only assurance against rebirth.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (36)

71. Unshaken by the impermanence and ills of life like the lion who scorns any sort of sound, untrammelled in the 5 aggregates as the wind that easily escapes the net,

unpolluted by the pollutant kleśas like the Padumā lotus that rises above the water and does not allow even drop to stay on it.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (37)

72. As the mighty-fanged lion roams the forest subduing all wild animals, so also take to the forest, make your lodgings in sylvan abode beyond the bounds of human habitat.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (38)

73. Generous thoughts, or neutral thoughts or compassionate thoughts or gladness in others' weal, let these noble thoughts occupy your mind in turn, thereby quelling all opposition.

Without enmity towards any sentient beings, keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (39)

74. Giving up passion, ill will and delusion, break up all fetters.

Fear of death is no more to him who has come to the end of all craving.

Keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn.(40)

75. These days, so-called friends come to you with an axe to grind. True friends with absolute sincerity are hard to come by. Hypocrites skilful in self-seeking surround you.

Hence keep away from company; fare alone like the rhino's horn. (41)

End of the Third, Khaggavisāna Sutta.