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sn.21.10 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

A Bhikkhu Named Elder

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion a certain bhikkhu named Elder was a lone dweller and spoke in praise of dwelling alone. He entered the village for alms alone, he returned alone, he sat alone in private, he undertook walking meditation alone.

Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Here, venerable sir, there is a certain bhikkhu named Elder who is a lone dweller and who speaks in praise of dwelling alone.”

Then the Blessed One addressed a certain bhikkhu thus: “Come, bhikkhu, tell the bhikkhu Elder in my name that the Teacher calls him.”

“Yes, venerable sir,” that bhikkhu replied, and he went to the Venerable Elder and told him: “The Teacher calls you, friend Elder.”

“Yes, friend,” the Venerable Elder replied, and he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The Blessed One then said to him: “Is it true, Elder, that you are a lone dweller and speak in praise of dwelling alone?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“But how, Elder, are you a lone dweller and how do you speak in praise of dwelling alone?”

“Here, venerable sir, I enter the village for alms alone, I return alone, I sit alone in private, and I undertake walking meditation alone. It is in such a way that I am a lone dweller and speak in praise of dwelling alone.”

“That is a way of dwelling alone, Elder, I do not deny this. But as to how dwelling alone is fulfilled in detail, listen to that and attend closely, I will speak.”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“And how, Elder, is dwelling alone fulfilled in detail? Here, Elder, what lies in the past has been abandoned, what lies in the future has been relinquished, and desire and lust for present forms of individual existence has been thoroughly removed. It is in such a way, Elder, that dwelling alone is fulfilled in detail.”

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

“The wise one, all-conqueror, all-knower,
Among all things unsullied, with all cast off,
Liberated in the destruction of craving:
I call that person ‘one who dwells alone.’”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

A Mendicant Named Senior

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Now at that time there was a certain mendicant named Senior. He lived alone and praised living alone.
He entered the village for alms alone, returned alone, sat in private alone, and concentrated on walking mindfully alone.
Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“Sir, there’s a certain mendicant named Senior who lives alone and praises living alone.”
So the Buddha addressed a certain monk,
“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Senior that
the teacher summons him.”
“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Venerable Senior and said to him,
“Reverend Senior, the teacher summons you.”
“Yes, reverend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
“Is it really true, Senior, that you live alone and praise living alone?”
“Yes, sir.”
“But in what way do you live alone and praise living alone?”
“Well, sir, I enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in private alone, and concentrate on walking mindfully alone.
That’s how I live alone and praise living alone.”
“That is a kind of living alone, I don’t deny it.
But as to how living alone is fulfilled in detail,
listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“And how, Senior, is living alone fulfilled in detail?
It’s when what’s in the past is given up, what’s in the future is relinquished, and desire and greed for present incarnations is eliminated.
That’s how living alone is fulfilled in detail.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“The champion, all-knower, so very intelligent,
is unsullied in the midst of all things.
He’s given up all, freed in the ending of craving:
I declare that man to be one who lives alone.”