snp.2.11 Suttanipata

Teaching Rāhula

Buddha
From living together constantly,
the Teacher you don’t scorn?
Torch-bearer to humanity,
is he by you revered?

Rāhula
From living together constantly,
the Teacher I scorn not.
Torch-bearer to humanity
is by me revered.

Buddha
Having let go five sense-desires,
and forms that are dear, delighting mind,
with faith renounce the household life,
be one who dukkha ends.

Keep company with noble friends,
dwell in a lonely practice-place,
secluded, having little noise,
with food be moderate.

Robes as well as food from alms,
with shelter, also remedies—
for these things no craving form,
so turn not to the world again.

By Pāṭimokkha stay restrained
and by the five sense faculties,
practise bodily mindfulness
to be dispassionate.

Avoid those objects beautiful,
which may be linked with lust,
on the unlovely, one-pointed,
well-concentrated, grow the mind.

Develop then the signless state,
with tendency to pride let go—
by fully understanding it,
truly as peaceful you will fare.

In this way the Radiant One with these verses frequently exhorted the venerable Rāhula.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

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With Rāhula

“Does familiarity breed contempt,
even for the man of wisdom?
Do you honor he who holds aloft
the torch for all humanity?”
“Familiarity breeds no contempt
for the man of wisdom.
I always honor he who holds aloft
the torch for all humanity.”
“One who’s given up the five sensual stimulations,
so pleasing and delightful,
and who’s left the home life out of faith—
let them make an end to suffering!
Mix with spiritual friends,
stay in remote lodgings,
secluded and quiet,
and eat in moderation.
Robes, almsfood,
requisites and lodgings:
don’t crave such things;
don’t come back to this world again.
Be restrained in the monastic code,
and the five sense faculties,
With mindfulness immersed in the body,
be full of disillusionment.
Turn away from the feature of things
that’s attractive, provoking lust.
With mind unified and serene,
meditate on the ugly aspects of the body.
Meditate on the signless,
give up the tendency to conceit;
and when you comprehend conceit,
you will live at peace.”
That is how the Buddha regularly advised Venerable Rāhula with these verses.