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The Lonely Forest Dweller

Poem
Andrew Olendzki
Spring 2003

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Spring2003ForestDwellerPoemThese lovely verses are attributed to Tissa Kumāra, the youngest brother of King Ashoka, and if this is true it demonstrates how some of the poetry of the Theragāthā entered into the Pali Canon relatively late—at the time of the Third Council (c. 250 B.C.E.).

Prince Tissa was made Vice Regent when Ashoka was first consecrated King. But within only a few years, inspired by the example of a forest-dwelling monk he encountered while hunting, he renounced worldly life to live as a simple Buddhist monk in the wilderness.

His monastic name translates as The Elder Who Lives Alone. The poem exudes the romantic yearning for the solitude of nature felt by someone who grew up, no doubt, in the court of the Maurya empire. The first five stanzas are said to have been uttered to Ashoka while expressing his wish to become a monk, and the last two verses were composed upon ordination. A final verse, not translated here, attests to his eventual awakening.

It was quite a family. Ashoka’s son (Mahinda) and daughter (Sanghamittā) were the ones to formally bring the Dhamma to the island of Lanka, where Theravāda Buddhism flourished for two and a half millennia.

The mountains named in the last stanza actually refer to the ring of hills surrounding Vulture’s Peak, but since the previous stanza specifies the peak of a mountain, I think it is appropriate to name the more well-known site.

Theragāthā 537-41;544-5

purato pacchato vāpi
aparo ce na vijjati,
atīva phāsu bhavati
ekassa vasato vane.

handa eko gamissāmi
araññ
aṃ buddhavaṇṇitaṃ
phāsuṃ ekavihārissa
pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

yogipītikaraṃ rammaṃ
mattakuñjarasevitaṃ
eko atthavasī khippaṃ
pavisissāmi kānanaṃ.

supupphite Sītavane
sītale girikandare
gattāni parisuñcitvā
caṅ
kamissāmi ekako.

ekākiyo adutiyo
ramaṇīye mahāvane
kadāhaṃ vi
harissāmi
katakicco anāsavo.

mālute upavāyante
sīte surabhigandhake
avijjaṃ dālayissāmi
nisinno nagamuddhani.

vane kusumasañchanne
pabbhāre nū
na sītale
vimuttisukhena sukhito
ramissāmi Giribbaje.

If nobody is to be found,
In front of one or behind one,
That is exceedingly pleasant
For the lonely forest dweller.

So be it! I will go alone
To the forest, praised by Buddha;
For the self-resolute bhikkhu,
Dwelling alone, it is pleasant.

Pleasing, and joyful to sages,
Haunted by rutting elephants,
Seeking my goal alone, quickly
Will I go to the wild forest.

In the well-flowered Cool Garden,
In a soothing mountain grotto,
Having annointed all my limbs,
I will walk back and forth, alone.

When indeed shall I come to dwell
All alone, without companion
In the great forest, so pleasing!
My task accomplished, without taint?

While the gentle breezes flutter,
Soothing and laden with fragrance,
I’ll burst asunder ignorance
While seated on the mountain top.

In a grove covered with flowers,
Or maybe on a cool hillside,
Gladdened by the joy of release,
I’ll be content on Vultures Peak.

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Insight Journal

Spring 2003

Download PDF

In this volume:

The Rock Inscriptions of King Ashoka

By Andrew Olendzki

Sutta Study

A Discussion Among Psychologists

By Various

Article

A Radiance of Nuns

By Charlotte Sudhammā

Article

The Lonely Forest Dweller

By Andrew Olendzki

Poem

Evolving Beyond Delusion

By Andrew Olendzki

Article

A Builder of Bridges

By Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia

Interview

The Truth of Interpersonal Suffering

By Greg Kramer

Article

The Five Spiritual Powers

By Sarah Doering

Dharma Talk

 

All issues:

See all Insight Journal issues

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • New and Notable
    • COVID-19 Safety Protocols
    • Mission and Values
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Board of Directors
    • IMS
    • Staff
    • Job Openings
    • Getting to BCBS
    • Mailing List
    • Contact Us
  • Onsite Programs
    • Current Course Calendar
    • Everything You Need to Know About Residential Programs
    • Typical Residential Schedule
    • Continuing Education Credits
    • Financial Assistance
    • Teacher Dāna
  • Online Programs
    • Upcoming Programs
    • Wisdom Collaborations
    • Previously Offered Programs
    • Cancellation Policy
  • Path Programs
  • Teaching Faculty
  • Resources
    • Insight Journal
    • Bhikkhu Anālayo’s Offerings
    • The Daily Sit
    • Freely Offered Dharma
      • Events
      • Courses
    • BCBS Publishing
    • BCBS Bookstore
    • Access to Insight
    • Dharma Seed
    • Ways to Engage in Social Justice
  • Generosity
    • Donate
    • Recurring Donations
    • Planned Giving
    • Other Ways of Giving
    • Teacher Dāna
    • Volunteer