English
a village-practice... for that reason it is called the sexual act. "And if he engages in sexual intercourse" means: He, at a later time, having renounced the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, and the training, having reverted to a lower state, is engaged, involved, occupied, fully engaged in the sexual act – and if he engages in sexual intercourse. "He is tormented like a fool" means: Like a wretch, like a fool, like a deluded one, he is tormented, afflicted, distressed. He even kills living beings, takes what is not given, breaks into houses, commits robbery. and he commits housebreaking, and he stands on the highway, and he goes with another's wife, and he speaks falsely. Thus he suffers, he is tormented, he is distressed. Then kings seize him and inflict various tortures: they beat him with whips, they beat him with canes, they beat him with cudgels, they cut off his hands, they cut off his feet, they cut off his hands and feet, they cut off his ears, they cut off his nose, they cut off his ears and nose, they make him into a "porridge pot," they make him into a "conch shell shaving," they make him into a "Rāhu's mouth," they make him into a "garland of light," they make him into a "hand torch," they make him into an "eraka-strip," they make him into a "bark-garment," they make him into an "antelope," they make him into a "fish-hook flesh," they make him into a "coin-cut," they make him into a "brine-soaked skin," they make him into a "bar-roller," they make him into a "straw-mat," they douse him with hot oil, they make dogs devour him, they impale him alive on a stake, they cut off his head with a sword. Thus he suffers, he is tormented, he is distressed. Or, overcome by craving for sensual pleasures, with his mind seized, seeking wealth, he embarks on a ship into the great ocean, harassed by cold, harassed by heat, oppressed by the touch of gnats, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping things, dying of hunger and thirst, he goes to Tigumba, he goes to Takkola, he goes to Takkasīla, he goes to Kālamukha, he goes to Purapūra, he goes to Vesuṅga, he goes to Verāpatha, he goes to Java, he goes to Tāmali, he goes to Vaṅga, he goes to Eḷabandhana, he goes to Suvaṇṇakūṭa, he goes to Suvaṇṇabhūmi, he goes to Tambapāṇi, he goes to Suppādaka, he goes to Bhārukaccha, he goes to Suraṭṭha, he goes to Bhaṅgaloka, he goes to Bhaṅgaṇa, he goes to Saramata Gaṇa, he goes to Yona, he goes to Paramayona, he goes to Vinaka. Goes to the wilderness, Goes to the root-path, Goes to the desert wilderness, Goes to the knee-path, Goes to the goat-path, Goes to the sheep-path, Goes to the stake-path, Goes to the umbrella-path, Goes to the bamboo-path, Goes to the bird-path, Goes to the mouse-path, Goes to the cave-path, Goes to the cane-path. Thus he suffers, he toils, he is distressed. Searching, he does not find. He experiences suffering and sorrow rooted in not gaining. Thus he suffers, he toils, he is distressed. Searching, he finds. Even having gained, he experiences suffering and sorrow rooted in guarding: "How might kings not seize my possessions, nor thieves seize them, nor fire burn them, nor water carry them away, nor unpleasant heirs seize them?" While he thus guards and protects, those possessions perish. He experiences suffering and sorrow rooted in separation. Thus he suffers, he toils, he is distressed – and if he is engaged in sexual intercourse, he toils foolishly. Therefore the Blessed One said: "Known as a wise one, established in solitude; if he is engaged in sexual intercourse, he toils foolishly." 56. Having known this danger, the sage, here and hereafter; should firmly practice solitude, should not indulge in sexual intercourse. "Having known this danger, the sage, here and hereafter" – this means: "This" refers to fame and renown in the former state of being a recluse, and in the latter state, having renounced the Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha, and training, having reverted to a lower state, there is infamy and lack of renown; this is success and failure. "Having known" means having understood, having weighed, having concluded, having made clear, having made manifest. "Sage" (Muni) means wisdom (mona). That wisdom, understanding... (etc.)... having overcome the net of attachment, he is a sage. "Here" means in this view, in this patience, in this liking, in this acceptance, in this Dhamma, in this Vinaya, in this Dhamma-Vinaya, in this teaching, in this holy life, in this Teacher's dispensation, in this existence. In this human world, thus it is said – Having known this danger, the sage, here and hereafter. He should make his solitary life firm. By two reasons he should make his solitary life firm: either by way of renunciation or by way of abandoning the group. How should he make his solitary life firm by way of renunciation? Having cut off all household ties, having cut off ties to children and wife, having cut off ties to relatives, having cut off ties to friends and associates, having cut off ties to possessions, having shaved off hair and beard, having put on saffron robes, having gone forth from home to homelessness, having attained a state of having nothing, he should live alone, dwell alone, move alone, behave alone, sustain alone, pass time alone, spend time alone. Thus he should make his solitary life firm by way of renunciation. How should he make his solitary life firm by way of abandoning the group? Being thus gone forth, he should resort alone to remote forest and wilderness dwellings, which are quiet, free from noise, secluded from people, suitable for retreat. He should go alone, stand alone, sit alone, lie down alone, enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in solitude alone, undertake walking meditation alone. He should live alone, dwell alone, move alone, behave alone, sustain alone, pass time alone, spend time alone. Thus he should make his solitary life firm by way of abandoning the group – he should make his solitary life firm, make it steadfast, he should be firm in his undertaking, he should be steadfast in his undertaking in wholesome states – he should make his solitary life firm. He should not engage in sexual intercourse. The practice of sexual intercourse is that which is unholy, a village practice... for that reason it is called the practice of sexual intercourse. He should not engage in, not resort to, not associate with, not practice, not live by, not conduct himself by, not undertake and maintain the practice of sexual intercourse – he should not engage in sexual intercourse. Therefore the Blessed One said – Having known this danger, the sage, here and hereafter, should make his solitary life firm, not sexual intercourse.” 57. One should train in solitude, This is supreme for the noble ones; Let him not think himself superior by it, He is indeed near Nibbāna. “One should train in solitude.” Solitude means three solitudes: physical solitude, mental solitude, and solitude from attachments. What is physical solitude… (rest omitted)… this is solitude from attachments. Physical solitude is for those who are physically solitary, who delight in renunciation. Mental solitude is for those whose minds are pure, who have attained the highest purification. Solitude from attachments is for those individuals who are free from attachments, who have gone to the dissolution of formations. “Train” means three trainings: the training in higher virtue, the training in higher mind, the training in higher wisdom… (rest omitted)… this is the training in higher wisdom. “One should train in solitude” means one should train in solitude, practice it, thoroughly practice it, undertake and live by it – one should train in solitude. “This is supreme for the noble ones.” The noble ones are called Buddhas, disciples of Buddhas, and Paccekabuddhas. For the noble ones, this is excellent, supreme, distinguished, foremost, highest, pre-eminent, namely, the practice of solitude – this is supreme for the noble ones. “Let him not think himself superior by it.” By the practice of physical solitude, he should not become elevated, not become uplifted, not generate conceit, not generate pride, not generate arrogance; he should not generate conceit by it, he should not be stiff, not be very stiff, not be one with an uplifted head – by it, he should not think himself superior. “He is indeed near Nibbāna.” He is near Nibbāna, close, adjacent, not far, very close – he is indeed near Nibbāna. Therefore, the Blessed One said: “One should train in solitude, This is supreme for the noble ones; Let him not think himself superior by it, He is indeed near Nibbāna.” 58. For the empty sage, wandering, Unattached to sensual pleasures; People entangled in sensual pleasures Crave for him who has crossed the flood. “For the empty sage, wandering.” For the empty, solitary, very solitary one, empty, solitary, very solitary of bodily misconduct. Of verbal misconduct… (rest omitted)… of mental misconduct… of lust… of hatred… of delusion… of anger… of resentment… of disparagement… of insolence… From envy, from stinginess, from deceit, from trickery, from obstinacy, from presumption, from pride, from haughtiness, from intoxication, from heedlessness, from all defilements, from all misconducts, from all torments, from all fevers, from all distresses, from all unwholesome formations, empty, secluded, utterly secluded. By the sage. Silence is called wisdom... ...that sage, having crossed the net of attachment. Moving means moving, abiding, acting, living, maintaining, sustaining, carrying on – of the empty sage moving. Not longing for sensual pleasures. Sensual pleasures, by enumeration, are two: pleasures of objects and pleasures of defilements... ...these are called pleasures of objects... ...these are called pleasures of defilements. Having fully understood pleasures of objects, having abandoned, given up, removed, made an end of, brought to non-existence pleasures of defilements,