Loneliness of the long distance Dhamma practitioner

bit.ly/bbclonely
BBC “Focus” March 2018
"You are not alone"

An article giving much focus on the fact of loneliness in this age of social networking. One solution reminded me of my bedsitter, pub socializing days in Belsize Park: strictly for the young.

Sadly no references to Dhamma, quite blind to this dimension.

From a Dhamma perspective, loneliness is the down side of the thrill of communication, on a conventional level - what goes up must come down - thus cutting down on social networking would thus cut down on loneliness. Perhaps a surprising conclusion.

On returning from 13 years of monastic life in NE Thailand to a relatives box room in Essex was workable, rather like the Kuti just left behind.

OK, though moving to a “studio” flat in Dunstable was very depressing: moving to a fully self contained apartment in Leighton Buzzard was positively suicidal.

However, developing a practice based around MahaBuwa/Anapanasati produced a very positive result, reminding me of a verse from the Pali, “Lonely as a Rhinoceros”: defeating - nay vanquishing - that very sense of loneliness.

Sharing same in Buddhist forums is even more positive.
Much gratitude for the opportunity.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.03.than.html

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Khaggavisana Sutta
A Rhinoceros Horn
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
For free distribution only

    Renouncing violence
    for all living beings,
    harming not even a one,
    you would not wish for offspring,
     so how a companion?
    Wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    For a sociable person
    there are allurements;
    on the heels of allurement, this pain.
    Seeing allurement's drawback,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    One whose mind
    is enmeshed in sympathy
    for friends and companions,
    neglects the true goal.
    Seeing this danger in intimacy,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Like spreading bamboo,
     entwined,
    is concern for offspring and spouses.
    Like a bamboo sprout,
     un-entangling,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    As a deer in the wilds,
     unfettered,
    goes for forage wherever it wants:
    the wise person, valuing freedom,
    wanders alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    In the midst of companions
    -- when staying at home,
     when going out wandering --
    you are prey to requests.
    Valuing the freedom
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    There is sporting and love
    in the midst of companions,
    and abundant fondness for offspring.
        Feeling disgust
    at the prospect of parting
    from those who'd be dear,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Without resistance in all four directions,
    content with whatever you get,
    enduring troubles with no dismay,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    They are hard to please,
    some of those gone forth,
    as well as those living the household life.
    Shedding concern
    for these offspring of others,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Cutting off the householder's marks, [1]
     like a kovilara tree
     that has shed its leaves,
    the prudent one, cutting all household ties,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    If you gain a mature companion,
    a fellow traveler, right living and wise,
    overcoming all dangers
     go with him, gratified,
     mindful.

    If you don't gain a mature companion,
    a fellow traveler, right-living and wise,
     wander alone
    like a king renouncing his kingdom,
    like the elephant in the Matanga wilds,
     his herd.

    We praise companionship
        -- yes!
    Those on a par, or better,
    should be chosen as friends.
    If they're not to be found,
     living faultlessly,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Seeing radiant bracelets of gold,
    well made by a smith,
     clinking, clashing,
     two on an arm,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros,

    [Thinking:]
    "In the same way,
    if I were to live with another,
    there would be careless talk or abusive."
    Seeing this future danger,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Because sensual pleasures,
    elegant, honeyed, and charming,
    bewitch the mind with their manifold forms --
    seeing this drawback in sensual strands --
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    "Calamity, tumor, misfortune,
    disease, an arrow, a danger for me."
    Seeing this danger in sensual strands,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Cold and heat, hunger and thirst,
    wind and sun, horseflies and snakes:
    enduring all these, without exception,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    As a great white elephant,
    with massive shoulders,
    renouncing his herd,
    lives in the wilds wherever he wants,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    "There's no way
    that one delighting in company
    can touch even momentary release."
    Heeding the Solar Kinsman's words,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Transcending the contortion of views,
     the sure way attained,
     the path gained,
    [realizing:]
    "Un-led by others,
    I have knowledge arisen,"
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    With no greed, no deceit,
    no thirst, no hypocrisy --
     delusion and blemishes
     blown away --
    with no inclinations for all the world,
     every world,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Avoid the evil companion
     disregarding the goal,
     intent on the out-of-tune way.
    Don't take as a friend
    someone heedless and hankering.
    Wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Consort with one who is learned,
     who maintains the Dhamma,
     a great and quick-witted friend.
    Knowing the meanings,
    subdue your perplexity,
    [then] wander alone
    like a rhinoceros,

    Free from longing, finding no pleasure
    in the world's sport, love, or sensual bliss,
    abstaining from adornment,
    speaking the truth,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Abandoning offspring, spouse,
    father, mother,
    riches, grain, relatives,
    and sensual pleasures
     altogether,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    "This is a bondage, a baited hook.
    There's little happiness here,
    next to no satisfaction,
    all the more suffering and pain."
    Knowing this, circumspect,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Shattering fetters,
    like a fish in the water tearing a net,
    like a fire not coming back to what's burnt,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Eyes downcast, not footloose,
    senses guarded, with protected mind,
    not oozing -- not burning -- with lust,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Taking off the householder's marks, [2]
     like a coral tree
     that has shed its leaves,
    going forth in the ochre robe,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Showing no greed for flavors, not careless,
    going from house to house for alms,
    with mind un-enmeshed in this family or that,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Abandoning barriers to awareness,
    expelling all defilements -- all --
    non-dependent, cutting aversion,
     allurement,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Turning your back on pleasure and pain,
    as earlier with sorrow and joy,
    attaining pure equanimity,
     tranquility,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    With persistence aroused
    for the highest goal's attainment,
    with mind un-smeared, not lazy in action,
    firm in effort, with steadfastness and strength arisen,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Not neglecting seclusion, absorption,
    constantly living the Dhamma
     in line with the Dhamma,
    comprehending the danger
    in states of becoming,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Intent on the ending of craving and heedful,
    learned, mindful, not muddled,
    certain -- having reckoned the Dhamma --
     and striving,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Un-startled, like a lion at sounds.
    Un-snared, like the wind in a net.
    Un-smeared, like a lotus in water:
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Like a lion -- forceful, strong in fang,
    living as a conqueror, the king of beasts --
    resort to a solitary dwelling.
    Wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    At the right time consorting
    with the release through good will,
     compassion,
     appreciation,
     equanimity,
    unobstructed by all the world,
     any world,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    Having let go of passion,
     aversion,
     delusion;
    having shattered the fetters;
    undisturbed at the ending of life,
    wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

    People follow and associate
     for a motive.
    Friends without a motive these days
     are rare.
    They're shrewd for their own ends, and impure.
        Wander alone
    like a rhinoceros.

Footnotes:

  1. Hair and beard.

  2. Lay clothing.

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This is very much my favourite Sutta at the moment. But divesting existing entanglements and avoiding new ones is an interesting and challenging task. I love the way that it highlights so many forms of attachment… Even the forms of attachment that we are conditioned to view as positive… are simply tethers.

Thankyou @peterdac, for your post, and best wishes for your practice :slight_smile:

Metta

3 Likes

Same here. But only the versions with the rhinoceros wandering, not the horn! :roll_eyes: I don’t get it…! :smile: I’ve started to learn it by heart in english… but it will take a while, it has so many verses.

The tradition put it in the ‘Minor’ collection and attributed it to the Paccekabuddhas, almost as if to say ‘don’t bother use this sutta, it’s not for normal people’… still I’m grateful they preserved it for so long!

Wishing you all a happy secluded practice! :anjal:

5 Likes

Collecting Firewood

1.3891 At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Then several youths, students of one of the Bhāradvāja brahmins, approached a forest grove while collecting firewood. They saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged at the root of a certain sal tree, with his body straight, and mindfulness established right there. Seeing this, they went up to Bhāradvāja and said to him: “Please sir, you should know this. In such and such a forest grove the ascetic Gotama is sitting down cross-legged, with his body straight, and mindfulness established right there.” Then Bhāradvāja together with those students went to that forest grove where he saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged, with his body straight, and mindfulness established right there. He went up to the Buddha, and addressed him in verse:

“Deep in the jungle so full of terrors,
you’ve plunged into the empty, desolate wilderness.
Still, steady, and graceful:
how beautifully you meditate, mendicant!

3 Where there is no song or music,
a lonely sage resorts to the wilderness.
This strikes me as an amazing thing,
that you dwell so joyfully alone in the jungle.

1.3904 I suppose you wish to be reborn in the company
of the supreme sovereign of the heaven of the Three.
Is that why you resort to the desolate wilderness,
to practice austerities for attaining Brahmā?”

5 “Any wishes and hopes that are always attached
to the many and various realms—
the yearnings sprung from the root of unknowing—
I’ve eliminated them all down to the root.

6 So I’m wishless, unattached, disengaged;
I clearly see all things.
I’ve attained the blissful, the supreme awakening;
I meditate alone, brahmin, and self-assured.”

1 Like