Vijitasena (THAG5.9)

Verses of the Senior Monks 5.9

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vijitasena

I’ll cage you, mind,

like an elephant in a stockade.

Born of the flesh, that net of the senses,

I won’t urge you to do bad.

Caged, you won’t go anywhere,

like an elephant who can’t find an open gate.

Loser mind, you won’t wander again and again,

bullying, in love with wickedness.

Just as a strong trainer with a hook

takes a wild, newly captured elephant

and wins it over against its will,

so I’ll win you over.

Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming

of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred,

so I’ll tame you,

firmly established in the five powers.

I’ll bind you with mindfulness;

devout, I shall tame you;

kept in check by harnessed energy,

mind, you won’t go far from here.