[414] 7. "For one given over to sexual intercourse (methuna),"
(thus said the Venerable Tissametteyya¹)
"declare the distress, dear sir;
having heard your teaching,
we shall train ourselves in seclusion (viveka)."
"For one given over to sexual intercourse,"
("Metteyya," said the Blessed One,)
"even the teaching is forgotten,
and he practices wrongly:
this in him is ignoble.
Whoever, having formerly fared alone,
resorts to sexual intercourse —
like a carriage swerving out of control,
him in the world they call a low worldling (puthujjana).
Whatever fame and renown were formerly his,
that too falls away from him;
having seen this as well, let him train
to abandon sexual intercourse.
Beset by his thoughts (saṅkappa), he¹
broods like a wretch;
hearing the reproach of others,
such a one becomes downcast.
Then, goaded by the words of others,
he takes up weapons;
this indeed is his great greed (gedha):
he plunges into false speech (mosavajja).
Recognized as 'a wise man,'
resolved upon faring alone (ekacariyā),
if he is then yoked to sexual intercourse,
he is harassed like a dullard.
Knowing this danger (ādīnava)
here, with regard to before and after,
let the sage (muni) make his faring alone firm;
let him not resort to sexual intercourse.
Let him train in seclusion alone:
this is supreme for the noble ones.
Yet he should not thereby conceive himself the best —
he truly is in the neighborhood of Nibbāna.
People bound to sensual pleasures (kāma)
envy the sage who fares empty,
unconcerned with sensual pleasures,
who has crossed the flood (ogha)."
The Tissametteyya Sutta, the seventh.
The Pasūra Sutta, the eighth [discourse] of the fourth [chapter] of the Sutta Nipāta, the Aṭṭhakavagga.
#1 M. and Yu. editions read: Tisso Metteyyo.
#1 Yu. edition reads: yo (for so).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.