![[info icon]](./../../../img/question_16.gif "Summary: A deva comes to the aid of a forest monk whose mind had been wandering during meditation.")
I have heard that on one occasion a certain monk was dwelling among the Kosalans in a forest thicket. Now at that time, as he had gone to spend the day [in the thicket], he was thinking unskillful thoughts, connected with the household life.
Then the devata inhabiting the forest thicket, feeling sympathy for the monk, desiring his benefit, desiring to bring him to his senses, approached him and addressed him with this verse:
"Desiring seclusion
you've entered the forest,
and yet your mind
goes running outside.
You, a person:
subdue your desire for people.
Then you'll be happy, free
from passion.
Dispel discontent,
be mindful.
Let me remind you
of that which is good —
for the dust
of the regions below
is hard to transcend.
Don't let the dust
of the sensual
pull
you
down.
As a bird
spattered with dirt
sheds the adhering dust with a shake,
so a monk
— energetic & mindful —
sheds the adhering dust."
The monk, chastened by the devata, came to his senses.
©1999 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
The text of this page ("Viveka Sutta: Seclusion", by Thanissaro Bhikkhu) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of the license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions.
Transcribed from a file provided by the translator. Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.
How to cite this document (a suggested style): "Viveka Sutta: Seclusion" (SN 9.1), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn09/sn09.001.than.html .