The Perfection of Ethics (5th)

“Then again when I was

a buffalo who roamed the forest,

large in body and strong,

big and scary to see.

In a cave, a craggy hillside,

at a tree root or a waterhole,

there’d be somewhere for buffalos,

in one place or another.

Wandering the mighty forest,

I saw a fine spot.

Having gone there,

I stood and lay to rest.

Then a monkey came along,

wicked, ignoble, and nimble.

On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows,

he peed and pooed.

Not just that day, but a second,

a third, and a fourth;

he soiled me all the time,

he was harrying me.

Seeing me being harried,

a spirit said to me:

‘Kill that vile, wicked thing

with your horns and hooves.’

When he spoke, I said

this to that spirit:

‘Why would you smear me

with a wicked, ignoble carcass?

If I were upset with him

I would degrade myself,

violating my ethics,

and being criticized by sensible people.

Better to die from purity

than live in shame.

How could I, for the sake of life,

harm another?’

Thinking of me, this one

will do the same to others,

and for that they will kill him.

Then I shall be free.

Forgiving disrespect

from the low, middle and high,

the wise one gains

their heart’s desire.”