# Paviveke (Seclusion / Solitude) / Pavivitta (Secluded) ## Seclusion is the prerequisite for learning the mind!! ![[AN6.68 Saṅgaṇikārāmasutta#^core]] ## Like a Bull Elephant (Nāga) > [!success] Living Alone, Away from the Crowd — In Nāgasutta ([AN9.40](https://suttacentral.net/an9.40/en/sujato)) > At that time the wild bull elephant thinks: > _Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye āraññikassa nāgassa evaṁ hoti:_ > > ‘Formerly I lived crowded by other males, females, younglings, and cubs. I ate the grass they’d trampled, and they ate the broken branches I’d dragged down. I drank muddy water, and after my bath the female elephants bumped into me. Now I live alone, and I’m free of all these things.’ He breaks off a branch and scratches his body, happily relieving his itches. > > _‘ahaṁ kho pubbe ākiṇṇo vihāsiṁ hatthīhi hatthinīhi hatthikalabhehi hatthicchāpehi, chinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādiṁ, obhaggobhaggañca me sākhābhaṅgaṁ khādiṁsu, āvilāni ca pānīyāni apāyiṁ, ogāhā ca me uttiṇṇassa hatthiniyo kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo agamaṁsu. Sohaṁ etarahi eko gaṇasmā vūpakaṭṭho viharāmi, acchinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādāmi, obhaggobhaggañca me sākhābhaṅgaṁ na khādanti, anāvilāni ca pānīyāni pivāmi, ogāhā ca me uttiṇṇassa na hatthiniyo kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo gacchantī’ti. So soṇḍāya sākhābhaṅgaṁ bhañjitvā sākhābhaṅgena kāyaṁ parimajjitvā attamano soṇḍaṁ saṁharati._ > > --- > In the same way, when a mendicant lives crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and by monastics of other religions and their disciples, they think: > _Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu ākiṇṇo viharati bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi raññā rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi, tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhussa evaṁ hoti:_ > > **‘These days I live crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples.** > _‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ākiṇṇo viharāmi bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi raññā rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi._ > > **==Why don’t I live alone, withdrawn from the group==?’** > _Yannūnāhaṁ **==eko gaṇasmā vūpakaṭṭho vihareyyan==**’ti._ > > They frequent a **==secluded lodging==**—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw. > > _So **==vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ==** bhajati araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ pabbataṁ kandaraṁ giriguhaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ._ > > Gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, they sit down cross-legged, set their body straight, and bring mindfulness to the present. > > _So araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā._ ## Seclusion is NOT for one without [[Samadhi|Samādhi]]! ![[AN10.99 Upālisutta#^seclusion-is-not-for-one-without-samadhi]] ### When is One ready? ![[AN10.99 Upālisutta#^when-ready-for-seclusion]] ## Suttas - MN122 Mahāsuññatasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/mn122/en/sujato)) - Buddha admonished Ananda on why monks loving company will not get the pleasure of peace and awakening, and **Seclusion** is the key for the development of the path - And how #dhamma/teaching/teacher and followers is at risk of falling back to indulgence if they get lost in fame and admirations. - [[AN6.68 Saṅgaṇikārāmasutta]] - Seclusion is prerequisite for learning the pattern of the mind. - [[AN10.99 Upālisutta]] - When is one ready for Seclusion? - AN9.40 Nāgasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an9.40/en/sujato)) - How to practice alone, remove the 5 hindrances and end the journey - Mentioned in: - [[AN10.48 Pabbajitaabhiṇhasutta]] - [[AN8.30 Anuruddhamahāvitakkasutta]]