6.
The Discourse on the Hawk
372.
"Once in the past, monks, a hawk suddenly swooped down upon a quail and seized it.
Then, monks, the quail, being carried off by the hawk, lamented thus -
'We are indeed unlucky, we are of little merit, we who wandered outside our own resort, in another's domain.
If today we were to walk in our own resort, in our own paternal domain, this hawk would not have been a match for me, that is to say -
for battle.'
'But what, quail, is your own resort, your own paternal domain?'
'That is to say -
the freshly ploughed field, the place of clods.'
"Then, monks, the hawk, not proud of her own strength, not boasting of her own strength, released the quail -
'Go then, quail, but even having gone there you will not escape from me.'
"Then, monks, the quail, having gone to the freshly ploughed field, the place of clods, having climbed upon a large clod, stood there calling to the hawk - 'Come now to me, hawk, come now to me, hawk!' Then, monks, that hawk, not proud of her own strength, not boasting of her own strength, having tucked in both wings, suddenly swooped down upon the quail. When, monks, the quail knew 'This hawk has come close to me,' then it slipped behind that very clod. Then, monks, the hawk right there struck her breast. For thus it is, monks, for one who walks outside one's own resort, in another's domain.
"Therefore, monks, do not walk outside your own resort, in another's domain. Monks, for those walking outside their own resort, in another's domain, Māra will gain access, Māra will gain an object. And what, monks, is a monk's improper resort, another's domain? That is to say - the five kinds of sensual pleasure. Which five? Forms cognisable by eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing; sounds cognisable by ear... etc. odours cognisable by nose... flavours cognisable by tongue... tangible objects cognisable by body that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing - this, monks, is a monk's improper resort, another's domain.
"Monks, walk in your own resort, in your own paternal domain. Monks, for those walking in their own resort, in their own paternal domain, Māra will not gain access, Māra will not gain an object. And what, monks, is a monk's own resort, his own paternal domain? That is to say - the four establishments of mindfulness. Which four? Here, monks, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. he dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world - this, monks, is a monk's own resort, his own paternal domain." The sixth.