2.13. Perfection in the Wandering Life (SNP2.13)

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.

Translated by Laurence Khantipalo Mills.

This translation was edited by Bhikkhu Sujato as part of the full translation of the Sutta Nipāta with commentary prepared from a draft handwritten and typed manuscript of Laurence Khantipalo Mills in 2015. The project was managed by Laurence’s students Michael Wells and Gary Dellora, and initial digitizing of the text was by Sean Read. Full text is available at https://suttacentral.net/downloads

In addition to the suttas noted, Bhikkhu Sujato also translated verses 46, 78, 232, 465, 500, 589–597, 865, 885–890, 894–5, 897–901, 902–916, and 919–921.

This text is released dedicated to the Public Domain by way of Creative Commons Zero. No rights reserved.