The Rhinoceros Horn

When you’ve laid down arms toward all creatures,
not harming even a single one,
don’t wish for a child, let alone a companion:
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Those with close relationships have affection,
following which this pain arises.
Seeing this danger born of affection,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

When feelings for friends and loved ones
are tied up in selfish love, you miss out on the goal.
Seeing this peril in intimacy,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

As a spreading bamboo gets entangled,
so does concern for partners and children.
Like a bamboo shoot unimpeded,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

As a wild deer loose in the forest
grazes wherever it wants,
a smart person looking for freedom would
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

When among friends, whether staying in place
or going on a journey, you’re always on call.
Looking for the uncoveted freedom,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Among friends you have fun and games,
and for children you are full of love.
Though loathe to depart from those you hold dear,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

At ease in any quarter, unresisting,
content with whatever comes your way;
prevailing over adversities, dauntless,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Even some renunciates are hard to please,
as are some layfolk dwelling at home.
Don’t worry about others’ children,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Having shed the marks of the home life,
like the fallen leaves of the Shady Orchid Tree;
having cut the bonds of the home life, a hero would
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

If you find an alert companion,
a wise and virtuous friend,
then, overcoming all adversities,
wander with them, joyful and mindful.

If you find no alert companion,
no wise and virtuous friend,
then, like a king who flees his conquered realm,
wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

Clearly we praise the blessing of a friend,
it’s good to be with friends your equal or better.
but failing to find them, eating blamelessly,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Though made of shining gold, well-finished by a smith,
when two bracelets share the same arm
they clash up against each other. Seeing this,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Thinking, “So too, if I had a partner,
there’d be flattery or curses.”
Seeing this peril in the future,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Sensual pleasures are diverse, sweet, delightful,
appearing in disguise they disturb the mind.
Seeing danger in the many kinds of sensual stimulation,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

This is a calamity, a boil, a disaster,
an illness, a dart, and a danger for me.
Seeing this peril in sensuality,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Heat and cold, hunger and thirst,
wind and sun, flies and snakes:
having put up with all these things,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

As a full-grown elephant, lotus-eating, magnificent,
forsaking the herd,
stays where it wants in the forest,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

It’s impossible for one who delights in company
to experience even temporary freedom.
Heeding the speech of the Kinsman of the Sun,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Thinking, “I am one who has left warped views behind,
has reached the sure way, has gained the path,
has given rise to knowledge, and needs no-one to guide me”,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

No greed, no guile, no thirst, no slur,
dross and delusion is smelted off;
free of hoping for anything in the world,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Avoid a wicked companion,
blind to the good, habitually immoral.
One ought not befriend the heedless and hankering, but
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Spend time with a learned expert who has memorized the teachings,
an eloquent and uplifting friend.
When you understand the meanings and have dispelled doubt,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

When you realize that worldly fun and games
and pleasure are unsatisfying, disregarding them,
as one unadorned, a speaker of truth,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Children, partner, father, mother,
wealth and grain and relatives:
having given up sensual pleasures to this extent,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

“This is a snare. Here there’s hardly any happiness,
little gratification, and it’s full of drawbacks.
It’s a hook.” Knowing this, a thoughtful person would
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Having burst apart the fetters,
like a fish that tears the net and swims free,
or a fire not returning to ground it has burned,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Eyes downcast, not footloose,
senses guarded, mind protected,
uncorrupted, not burning with desire,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Having shed the marks of the home life,
like the fallen leaves of the Shady Orchid Tree,
and gone forth in the ocher robe,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Not wanton, nor rousing greed for tastes,
providing for no other, wandering indiscriminately for alms,
not attached to this family or that,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

When you’ve given up five mental obstacles,
and expelled all corruptions,
and cut off affection and hate, being independent,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

When you’ve put pleasure and pain behind you,
and former happiness and sadness,
and gained equanimity serene and pure,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

With energy roused to reach the ultimate goal,
not sluggish in mind or lazy,
vigorous, strong and powerful,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Not neglecting retreat and absorption,
always living in line with the teachings,
comprehending the danger in rebirths,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

One whose aim is the ending of craving—
diligent, clever, learned, mindful, resolute—
who has assessed the teaching and is bound for awakening, should
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Like a lion not startled by sounds,
like wind not caught in a net,
like water not sticking to a lotus,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Like the fierce-fanged lion, king of beasts,
who wanders as victor and master,
you should frequent remote lodgings, and
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

In time, cultivate freedom through
love, compassion, rejoicing, and equanimity.
Not upset by anything in the world,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,
having burst apart the fetters,
unafraid at the end of life,
live alone like a rhino’s horn.

They befriend you and serve you for their own sake;
these days it’s hard to find friends lacking ulterior motive.
Impure folk cleverly profit themselves—
live alone like a rhino’s horn.