snp.2.13 Suttanipata

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.”