Upali

The Venerable Upali approached the Blessed One, paid respects to him, sat down to one side, and said: “Bhante, I wish to resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.”

“Remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves are hard to endure, Upali. Solitude is hard to undertake and hard to delight in.  When he is alone, the woods steal the mind of a bhikkhu who does not gain concentration. It can be expected that one who says ‘I do not gain concentration, yet will resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves’ will either sink or float away.”

“ Suppose, Upali, there was a large lake, and a bull elephant seven or eight cubits in size would come along.  He might think: ‘Let me enter this lake and playfully wash my ears and back. I will bathe and drink, come out, and set off wherever I want.’  He then enters the lake and playfully washes his ears and back. He bathes and drinks, comes out, and sets off wherever he wants. How so? Because his large body finds a footing in the depths.

“Then a hare or a cat comes along.  It might think: ‘How is a bull elephant different from myself? I’ll enter this lake and playfully wash my ears and back.  I will bathe and drink, come out, and set off wherever I want.’ Then, without reflecting, it hastily enters the deep lake.  It can be expected that it will either sink or float away. Why so? Because it’s small body does not find a footing in the depths.  So too, it can be expected that one who would say: ‘I do not gain concentration, yet I will resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves, will either sink or float away.’