The Tusker

The Buddha stayed with Aniruddha, Kimbila, and Nandiya and instructed them on the finer points of meditation. After that he went out alone into the jungle to live in peace for a time. The Buddha reflected: “Formerly I lived in discomfort, pestered by those Kosambi monks who quarrel, brawl, wrangle, harangue and litigate in the midst of the Sangha. Now I am alone and companionless, living at ease and in comfort, away from all of them.” (Life of the Buddha, p. 115)

At that time, a bull-elephant or “tusker” also came alone into the forest, as it too felt harassed living amidst the herd. There the tusker discovered the Buddha and the two lived together in the jungle looking after one another. The tusker reflected:  “Formerly I lived pestered by elephants… Now, alone and withdrawn from the herd, I live at ease and in comfort away from all those elephants.” (Ibid, p. 116) The Buddha, empathizing with his tusker companion said the following:

Herein agrees mind with mind, of sage

And bull-elephant with plough-pole tusks,

Since each delights in forest (solitude).

(Book of the Discipline Part 4, p. 504)

So the Buddha parted for a time from his own unruly herd. It does not seem too unlikely that his only companion would have been a lone elephant in the jungle, though the appearance of the elephant also conveniently illustrates his earlier stanzas regarding walking alone and at ease like a tusker in the woods that he exclaimed upon leaving the quarreling monks of Kosambi. The lesson here seems pretty straightforward, if it is possible to cultivate our practice with those who are serious, diligent, and considerate of each other and not obsessed with conflicts; then we should do so. But if that is not possible, then like the tusker or the Buddha, we should get away from the herd and practice on our own away from needless conflict and other distractions.

Note that the Buddha did what he could to reconcile the monks at Kosambi before he left them. But in the end, he saw that they would have to learn the hard way. So instead of letting them drag him down, the Buddha left them to their own devices and went to visit those like Bhagu and Aniruddha and his friends who were practicing sincerely. Then the Buddha took some time out for himself before returning once again into the world where he would be available to those who needed his teaching and guidance – including the monks of Kosambi.