Sutta Nipāta 45

Anthology of Discourses 4.7

1 “When someone indulges in sex,” said Venerable Tissametteyya,

“tell us, good fellow: what trouble befalls them?

After hearing your instruction,

we shall train in seclusion.”

2 “When someone indulges in sex,” replied the Buddha,

“they forget their instructions

and go the wrong way—

that is something ignoble in them.

3 Someone who formerly lived alone

and then resorts to sex

is like a chariot careening off-track;

in the world they call them a low, ordinary person.

4 Their former fame and reputation

also fall away.

Seeing this, they’d train

to give up sex.

5 Oppressed by thoughts,

they brood like a wretch.

When they hear what others are saying,

that sort is embarrassed.

6 Then they lash out with verbal daggers

when reproached by others.

This is their great blind spot;

they sink to lies.

7 They once were considered astute,

committed to the solitary life.

But then they indulged in sex,

dragged along by desire like a dullard.

8 Knowing this danger

in falling from a former state here,

a sage would firmly resolve to wander alone,

and would not resort to sex.

9 They’d train themselves only in seclusion;

this, for the noble ones, is highest.

One who’d not think themselves ‘best’ due to that

has truly drawn near to extinguishment.

10 People tied to sensual pleasures envy them:

the isolated, wandering sage

who has crossed the flood,

unconcerned for sensual pleasures.”