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SN 7.18 — Katthaharaka Sutta: Buddha in the Forest

translated from the Pāli by Andrew Olendzki

[A Brahman:]

Deep in the bowels of the terror-filled forest, Immersed in the empty and desolate woods, Without flinching at all, steadfast, compelling You meditate, monk, in an exquisite way. Where nothing is sung and nothing is sounded, Alone in the forest, a wood-dwelling sage, This appears to me something remarkable: That you live in the woods—alone—glad-minded! I'm guessing you're longing for the three highest Heavens, there to befriend the Lord of the World. Why else, Sir, dwell in this desolate jungle, Except to do penance for reaching Brahma?

[The Buddha:]

Every kind of delighting or longing, So often attaching to all kinds of stuff, Yearned for because of deep-rooted confusion — All these, with their roots, have been vanquished by me. I'm devoid of attachment, longing, or thirst, And see clearly amidst all phenomena. Having gained the sublime, highest awakening, I meditate, priest, in ripened seclusion.
Copyright © 2005 Andrew Olendzki. The text of this page (“Katthaharaka Sutta: Buddha in the Forest”, by Andrew Olendzki) is licensed under a Buddhist Publication Society free-distribution licence. From Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013. You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. This presentation is a derivative of that source document: it has been restyled and its links rewritten. The translation itself is unaltered.