Sutta Nipāta 23

Anthology of Discourses 2.11

1 “Does familiarity breed contempt,

even for the man of wisdom?

Do you honor he who holds aloft

the torch for all humanity?”

2 “Familiarity breeds no contempt

for the man of wisdom.

I always honor he who holds aloft

the torch for all humanity.”

3 “One who’s given up the five sensual stimulations,

so pleasing and delightful,

and who’s left the home life out of faith—

let them make an end to suffering!

4 Mix with spiritual friends,

stay in remote lodgings,

secluded and quiet,

and eat in moderation.

5 Robes, almsfood,

requisites and lodgings:

don’t crave such things;

don’t come back to this world again.

6 Be restrained in the monastic code

and the five sense faculties.

With mindfulness immersed in the body,

be full of disillusionment.

7 Turn away from the sign

that’s attractive, provoking lust.

With mind unified and serene,

meditate on the ugly aspects of the body.

8 Meditate on the signless,

give up the tendency to conceit;

and when you comprehend conceit,

you will live at peace.”

9 That is how the Buddha regularly advised Venerable Rāhula with these verses.