Hunter Discourses on Wisdom and Not Grieving

The brahmana had spoken. Now the hunter answered — not as a student receiving instruction, but as one who had already learned the lesson and could teach it back. "Like physical pain is destroyed with medicines," he said, "mental pain is destroyed with wisdom." But this capacity for knowledge, he warned, does not come equally to all. Men of limited intelligence are overcome by mental distress when calamities strike and when they are separated from what is pleasant. They cannot see past the moment. All beings have some good qualities and some bad ones. Everyone is subject to this. There is no reason for grief. When one sees something unpleasant, one should withdraw swiftly. If one sees it coming, one should take countermeasures. But nothing happens to the one who sorrows. He can only lament. "Men who give up both happiness and unhappiness are learned ones who are satisfied with knowledge. They are really happy." The ignorant are always dissatisfied. The learned are always satisfied. There is no end to dissatisfaction. Satisfaction is supreme happiness. Those who do not sorrow have gone along that path. They can see the supreme objective. "One should not immerse one's mind in grief. Grief is a terrible poison. Like an angry serpent, it kills those who are foolish and have not attained wisdom." One who is overcome by sorrow when difficulties surface — his energy is destroyed and he has no manliness. The fruits of deeds can be seen. One who falls prey to despair does not obtain what is good. Instead, one should look for means to free oneself from misery. One should not sorrow, but be united with the good. "If one thinks about the nature of all beings, one obtains supreme intelligence." Then the hunter spoke of himself: "O learned one! I do not sorrow. I am waiting for the time to pass. O brahmana! O excellent one! It is for this reason that I am not constrained."