The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the - Bill Heidrick's Cross ...

34 THE SACRED BOOKS
KHAGGAVISANA SUTTA 7
1.
Having abandoned the practising of violence toward all
objects, not doing violence to any one of them, let one wish
not for children. Why wish for a friend? Let one walk
alone like a rhinoceros.
2.
There are friendships to one who lives in society; this our
present grief arises from having friendships; observing the
evils resulting from friendship, let one walk alone like a
rhinoceros.
3.
He who is kind toward much-beloved friends loses his own
good from his mind becoming partial; observing such danger
in friendship, let one walk alone like a rhinoceros.
4.
As a spreading bush of bamboo is entangled in various
ways, so is the longing for children and wives: not clinging
to these, even like a bamboo just sprouting forth, let one walk
alone like a rhinoceros.
5.
As a beast of the forest prowls, free, whithersoever he will
for pasture, even so let a wise man, observing solitude, walk
alone like a rhinoceros.
7 This discourse was delivered by Gotama Buddha, at the request of
Ananda, a priest, who, though he was acquainted with the deeds and
doctrines of the Supreme Buddhas, had not yet heard of the preachings
of Pachaheka, or inferior Buddhas. Gotama here repeats what was
taught by Buddhas of the latter category at various times. As in
Uraga, so also in this, the metaphor repeated in each stanza gives the
title to the whole. Khaggavisana means "rhinoceros."