Ekavihāriya (THAG10.2)

Verses of the Senior Monks 10.2

The Book of the Tens

Chapter One

Ekavihāriya

If no one else is found

before or behind,

it’s extremely pleasant

to be dwelling alone in a forest grove.

Come now, I’ll go alone

to the wilderness praised by the Buddha.

It’s pleasant for a mendicant

to be dwelling alone and resolute.

Alone and self-disciplined,

I’ll quickly enter the delightful forest,

which gives joy to meditators,

and is frequented by rutting elephants.

In the Cool Grove, so full of flowers,

in a cool mountain cave,

I’ll bathe my limbs

and walk mindfully alone.

When will I dwell alone,

without a companion,

in the great wood, so delightful,

my task complete, free of defilements?

This is what I want to do:

may my wish succeed!

I’ll make it happen myself,

for no one can do another’s duty.

Fastening my armor,

I’ll enter the forest.

I won’t leave

without attaining the end of defilements.

As the cool gale blows

with fragrant scent,

I’ll split ignorance apart,

sitting on the mountain-peak.

In a forest grove covered with blossoms,

in a cave so very cool,

I take pleasure in the Mountainfold,

happy with the happiness of freedom.

I’ve got all I wished for

like the moon on the fifteenth day.

With the utter ending of all defilements,

now there’ll be no more future lives.