Dhammapada - The Essential Teaching of The Buddha

Chapter XXIII

THE ELEPHANT

320 Silently I endure abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured.

325 If a man becomes fat and a great eater, if he is sleepy rolls himself about, that fool, like a hog fed on grains, is born again and again.

326 This mind of mine went formerly wandering  about as it liked, as it listed, as it pleased; but I shall now hold it in thoroughly, as the rider who holds the hook holds in the furious elephant.

330 It is better to live alone, there is no companionship with a fool; let a man walk alone, let him commit no sin, with few wishes, like an elephant in the forest.

331 If the occasion arises, friends are pleasant; enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause; a good work is pleasant in the hour of death; the giving up of all grief is pleasant.

332 Pleasant in the world is the state of a mother, pleasant the state of a father, pleasant the state of a Samana, pleasant the state of a Brahmana.

333 Pleasant is virtue lasting to old age, pleasant is a faith firmly rooted; pleasant is attainment of intelligence, pleasant is avoiding of sins.