Question
Of the Sage of great wisdom, one gone across,
to the further shore gone, completely Cool, poised
who’s renounced a house,
sense-pleasures dispelled, I ask:
How would a bhikkhu rightly wander in the world?Buddha
Who has destroyed (belief) in omens, in luck,
the occurrence of dreams and other signs such,
who is rid of the bane of what is auspicious,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Who sensuality is able to divert—
both varieties, human and divine—such a bhikkhu
passed beyond being, knowing Dharma well,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Anger and avarice by the bhikkhu abandoned,
his back having turned upon slander as well,
compliance, opposition, completely disappeared,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Letting go the pleasant, what’s unpleasant too,
ungrasping, unsupported by nothing at all,
from all the causes for the fetters—completely free,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Seeing no essence in mental substrata,
dispelled passionate desire for what can be grasped,
not being dependent or led by another,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.In speech, mind and deed to others unopposed
and knowing very well the Dharma’s full extent,
and one who is aspiring to the state of Nirvāṇa,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.The bhikkhu not conceited thinking, “Me he reveres”,
nor on being abused does he retaliate,
nor thrilled with others donations of food,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.For greed and for being, the bhikkhu’s let go,
as for injury and bondage it’s not done by him
crossed over doubts, removed is the dart,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.A bhikkhu who knows what he himself enjoys
would not be one who harms others in the world;
realizing the Dharma as it really is,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.in whom are no hidden tendencies at all—
the roots of evil completely removed,
for them no longings left, no yearnings come anew
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Inflows eradicated and conceit let go
and transcended the path of sexual desire,
one tamed, completely Cool and imperturbable,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Confident and learned, one who Sees the Way,
one Wise who among sects is no sectarian;
who greed has diverted, hatred, ill-will too,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.A conqueror—purity perfected, remover of the veil,
with majesty of dharmas, far-shorer, inturbulent,
skilful with knowledge of conditioned things’ cessation,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Of wisdom purified surmounting both
past and the future, gone beyond time,
and in every way free from sense-bases,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Final Knowledge of the State, having realized the Dharma,
having seen openly the letting-go of inflows,
with all the substrata completely dissolved,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.Question
Indeed, O Blessed One, certainly it is thus,
for that bhikkhu tamed, living like this—
one who beyond all the fetters has passed,
such a one rightly would wander in the world.
snp.2.13 Suttanipata
Perfection in the Wandering Life
- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills
The Right Way to Wander
“I ask the sage abounding in wisdom—crossed-over, gone beyond, quenched, steadfast:
when a mendicant has left home, expelling sensuality,
what’s the right way to wander the world?”
“When they’ve eradicated superstitions,”
said the Buddha,
“about celestial portents, dreams, or bodily marks;
with the stain of superstitions left behind,
they’d rightly wander the world.
A mendicant ought dispel desire
for pleasures human or divine;
with rebirth transcended and truth comprehended,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Putting divisiveness behind them,
a mendicant gives up anger and stinginess;
with favoring and opposing left behind,
they’d rightly wander the world.
When the loved and the unloved are both left behind,
not grasping or dependent on anything;
freed from all things that fetter,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Finding no substance in attachments,
rid of desire for things they’ve acquired,
independent, needing no-one to guide them,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Not hostile in speech, mind, or deed,
they’ve rightly understood the teaching.
Aspiring to the state of quenching,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Not pridefully thinking, ‘they bow to me’;
though reviled, they’d still stay in touch;
not besotted when getting food from others,
they’d rightly wander the world.
When greed and craving to live again are cast off,
a mendicant refrains from violence and abduction;
rid of doubt, free of thorns,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Knowing what is suitable for themselves,
a mendicant would hurt no-one in the world;
understanding the teaching in accord with reality,
they’d rightly wander the world.
They have no underlying tendencies at all,
and are rid of unskillful roots;
free of hope, with no need for hope,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Defilements ended, conceit given up,
beyond all manner of desire;
tamed, quenched, and steadfast,
they’d rightly wander the world.
Faithful, learned, seer of the sure path,
the wise one takes no side among factions;
rid of greed, hate, and repulsion,
they’d rightly wander the world.
A purified victor with veil drawn back,
among worldly things master, transcendent, stilled;
expert in knowledge of conditions’ cessation,
they’d rightly wander the world.
They’re over speculating on the future or past,
and understand what it means to be pure;
freed from all the sense fields,
they’d rightly wander the world.
The state of peace is understood, the truth is comprehended,
they’ve openly seen defilements cast off;
and with the ending of all attachments,
they’d rightly wander the world.”
“Clearly, Blessed One, it is just as you say.
One who lives like this is a tamed mendicant,
beyond all fetters and yokes:
they’d rightly wander the world.”