{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud4.5/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud4.5","id":"suttacentral_ud4.5","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud4.5/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosamb\u012b in Ghosita\u2019s monastery. Now at that time Buddha lived crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples. Crowded, he lived in suffering and discomfort. Then he thought, \u201cThese days I live crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples. Crowded, I live in suffering and discomfort. Why don\u2019t I live alone, withdrawn from the group?\u201d Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Kosamb\u012b for alms. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he set his lodgings in order himself. Taking his bowl and robe, without informing his supporters or taking leave of the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha, he set out to go wandering alone toward P\u0101rileyyaka, with no companion. When he eventually arrived, he stayed in a protected forest grove, at the foot of a sacred sal tree. A certain bull elephant was also living crowded by other males, females, younglings, and cubs. He ate the grass they\u2019d trampled, and they ate the broken branches he dragged down. He drank muddy water, and after his bath the female elephants bumped into him. Crowded, he lived in suffering and discomfort. Then he thought, \u201cThese days I live crowded by other males, females, younglings, and cubs. I eat the grass they\u2019ve trampled, and they eat the broken branches I\u2019ve dragged down. I drink muddy water, and after my bath the female elephants bump into me. Crowded, I live in suffering and discomfort. Why don\u2019t I live alone, withdrawn from the herd?\u201d So he left the herd and went to P\u0101rileyyaka, where he approached the Buddha in the protected forest grove at the foot of a sacred sal tree. There he attended on the Buddha, clearing the vegetation from the place where the Buddha stayed, and using his trunk to set out water for drinking and washing. Then as the Buddha was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, \u201cFormerly I lived crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples. Crowded, I live in suffering and discomfort. But now I live uncrowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples. Being uncrowded, I live in happiness and comfort.\u201d And to the bull elephant also this thought came to mind, \u201cFormerly I lived crowded by other males, females, younglings, and cubs. I ate the grass they\u2019d trampled, and they ate the broken branches I\u2019d dragged down. I drank muddy water, and after my bath the female elephants bumped into me. Crowded, I lived in suffering and discomfort. But now I live uncrowded by other males, females, younglings, and cubs. I eat untrampled grass, and other elephants don\u2019t eat the broken branches I have dragged down. I don\u2019t drink muddy water, and the female elephants don\u2019t bump into me after my bath. Being uncrowded, I live in happiness and comfort.\u201d Then, understanding his own seclusion and knowing that elephant\u2019s train of thought, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cThe giant elephant, with tusks like draft-poles, agrees heart to heart with the spiritual giant, since each finds joy in the woods alone.\u201d","title":"A Bull Elephant","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":572}