I hope everyone will tune into PBS tonight to see the “The Buddha”. A film about his life, narrated by Richard Gere. For more information and the trailer click here.
Muni Sutta: The Sage
Danger is born from intimacy,1 society gives birth to dust.2 Free from intimacy, free from society: such is the vision of the sage. Who, destroying what’s born wouldn’t plant again or nourish what will arise: They call him the wandering, singular sage. He has seen the state of peace. Considering the ground, crushing the seed, he wouldn’t nourish the sap3 — truly a sage — seer of the ending of birth, abandoning conjecture, he cannot be classified. Knowing all dwellings,4 not longing for any one anywhere — truly a sage — with no coveting, without greed, he does not build,5 for he has gone beyond. Overcoming all knowing all, wise. With regard to all things: unsmeared. Abandoning all, in the ending of craving, released: The enlightened call him a sage. Strong in discernment, virtuous in his practices, centered, delighting in jhana, mindful, freed from attachments, no constraints :: no fermentations:6 The enlightened call him a sage. The wandering solitary sage, uncomplacent, unshaken by praise or blame. Unstartled, like a lion at sounds. Unsnared, like the wind in a net. Unsmeared, like a lotus in water. Leader of others, by others unled: The enlightened call him a sage. Like the pillar at a bathing ford,7 when others speak in extremes. He, without passion, his senses well-centered: The enlightened call him a sage. Truly poised, straight as a shuttle,8 he loathes evil actions. Pondering what is on-pitch and off:9 The enlightened call him a sage. Self-restrained, he does no evil. Young and middle-aged, the sage self-controlled, never angered, he angers none: The enlightened call him a sage. From the best the middling the leftovers he receives alms. Sustaining himself on what others give, neither flattering nor speaking disparagement: The enlightened call him a sage. The wandering sage abstaining from sex, in youth bound by no one, abstaining from intoxication10 complacency totally apart: The enlightened call him a sage. Knowing the world, seeing the highest goal, crossing the ocean,11 the flood,12 — Such — 13 his chains broken, unattached without fermentation: The enlightened call him a sage. These two are different, they dwell far apart: the householder supporting a wife and the unselfish one, of good practices. Slaying other beings, the householder is unrestrained. Constantly the sage protects other beings, is controlled. As the crested, blue-necked peacock, when flying, never matches the wild goose in speed: Even so the householder never keeps up with the monk, the sage secluded, doing jhana in the forest.
“Muni Sutta: The Sage” (Snp 1.12), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, June 7, 2009, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.12.than.html.
