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.