Psalms of the Brethren CCXXXIV: Ekavihariya

If there be none in front, nor none behind
Be found, is one alone and in the woods
Exceeding pleasant doth his life become.

Come then! alone I’ll get me hence and go
To lead the forest-life the Buddha praised,
And taste the welfare which the brother knows,
Who dwells alone with concentrated mind.

Yea, swiftly and alone, bound to my quest,
I’ll to the jungle that I love, the haunt
Of wanton elephants, the source and means
Of thrilling zest to each ascetic soul.

In Cool Wood’s flowery glades cool waters lie,
Within the hollows of the hills; and there
I’ll bathe my limbs when hot and tired, -and there
At large in ample solitude I’ll roam.

Lone and unmated in the lovely woods,
When shall I come to rest, work wrought, heart cleansed?

O that I might win through, who am so fain!
I only may achieve the task; herein
None for his fellow-man can aught avail.

I’ll bind my spirit’s armour on, and so
The jungle will I enter, that from thence
I’ll not come forth until Nibbana’s won.

I’ll seat me on the mountain-top, the while
The wind blows cool and fragrant on my brow,
And burst the baffling mists of ignorance.

Then on the flower-carpet of the wood,
Anon in the cool cavern of the cliff,
Blest in the bliss of Liberty I’ll take
Mine ease on thee, old Fastness o’ the Crag.

Lo! I am he whose purpose is fulfilled,
And rounded as the moon on fifteenth day.
Destroyed all deadly canker, sane, immune,
I know rebirth comes ne’er again for me.