Psalms of the Brethren CCXXXVIII: Upasena, Vanganta’s son

’Tis there the Brother should his couch prepare
For purposes of studious retreat.

From rubbish-pile, or from the charnel-field,
Or from the highways let him take and bring,
Worn cloths and thence a cloak of patchwork make,
And in such rough apparel clothe himself.

In lowliness of mind from house to house,
In turn unbroken let the Brother fare
Seeking his alms, sense guarded, well controlled;

With any fare content rough though it be,
Nor fain for other than he gets, or more,
For if he once indulge in greed for tastes,
Ne’er can his mind in jhana take delight.

In great content, with very sparse desires,
Remote, secluded: so the sage should live,
Detached from housefolk and the homeless, both.

Let him so show himself as he were dull
And dumb, nor let the wise man speech prolong
Unduly, when in midst of gathered folk.

Let him not any man upbraid; let him
Refrain from hurting; let him be in rule
And precept trained, and temperate in food.

Let him be one who concentrates upon
The symbol, skilled in genesis of thought.
To practise Calm let him devote himself,
And Intuition also in due time.

With energy and perseverance armed,
Let him he ever to his studies yoked;
Nor till he have attained the end of Ill,
Let the wise man go forth in confidence.

Thus if the Brother, fain for purity
[Of knowledge and of vision] I shall abide,
The working of th’ Intoxicants shall cease,
And he shall reach and find Nibbana’s peace.