Remote Lodgings in Forests and Jungle Groves Are Hard to Endure

‘Venerable Sir, I wish to retreat to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.’

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

Suppose, Upāli, 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’Il 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 predicted that it will either sink or float away.

Why so? Because its small body does not find a footing in the depths.

So too, it can be predicted that one who would say: I do not gain concentration, yet I will retreat to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves; will either sink or float away.

Come, Upāli, reside within The Community. While you reside within The Community you will be at ease.

(Reference: AN 10.99)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he provides guidance to his Student Upāli that he should consider not going to the forest as he is not prepared for the harshness of living alone in the jungle.

One of the roles of a Teacher is to understand the development of their Students on The Path to Enlightenment and provide guidance as appropriate for their development. It is the Student’s responsibility to seek guidance but having done so, a Teacher will need to provide guidance appropriate to the Student’s current stage of development.

The Buddha feels the Student Upāli is not prepared or ready for the seclusion of being alone in the forest and suggests that if he goes into the jungle, he will “either sink or float away” much like a rabbit (hare) or a cat that enters a lake unprepared instead of like an elephant.

The elephant is prepared, strong, and able to enter the lake, experience benefit, and leave safely. But, the hare or cat is unable to accomplish the same beneficial results because they do not have the same qualities as the elephant to be able to establish a footing to exit the lake. The hare or cat “without reflecting, hastily enters the deep lake”. They have not taken the time to consider whether they were prepared for the challenge ahead.

A Practitioner who is well developed in their practice may be prepared for seclusion or a lengthy meditation retreat. A Practitioner who is early in the development of their practice most likely will not experience the same benefit or be prepared for seclusion or a lengthy meditation retreat.

It is important to challenge the mind and one’s practice as you progress on The Path to Enlightenment. But, it is also important to ensure one is not over challenged as this could dissuade you from further development and detract from the overall goal of progressing towards Enlightenment.

It is important to know whether your practice is well developed such as an elephant where you will find a footing and be able to progress through challenges or you are a hare/cat where you will not find a footing and sink or float away.

Consulting with a Teacher to seek guidance as you progress and embark on various aspects of developing your practice and testing the mind is important. Without the guidance of a Teacher, a Student would be unable to train the mind to attain Enlightenment.