8.
The Discourse at the Salaḷa Tree House
906.
On one occasion the Venerable Anuruddha was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Salaḷa Tree House.
There the Venerable Anuruddha addressed the monks... etc.
said this -
"Just as, friends, the river Ganges slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east.
Then a great multitude of people might come, having taken spades and baskets -
'We shall make this river Ganges slant towards the west, slope towards the west, incline towards the west.'
What do you think, friends, would that great multitude of people make the river Ganges slant towards the west, slope towards the west, incline towards the west?"
"No indeed, friend."
"What is the reason for this?"
"The river Ganges, friend, slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east.
It is not easy to make it slant towards the west, slope towards the west, incline towards the west.
That great multitude of people would only become partakers of lethargy and vexation."
"So too, friends, a monk developing the four establishments of mindfulness, cultivating the four establishments of mindfulness - kings or royal ministers or friends or colleagues or relatives or blood-relations might invite him, bringing wealth - 'Come, good man, why do these orange robes burn you? Why do you wander about shaven-headed with a bowl? Come, having returned to the lower life, enjoy wealth and make merit.'
"That indeed, friends, that monk developing the four establishments of mindfulness, cultivating the four establishments of mindfulness, having rejected the training, will return to the lower life - this is impossible. What is the reason for this? For that mind, friends, which for a long time has slanted towards seclusion, sloped towards seclusion, inclined towards seclusion, that it will return to the lower life - this is impossible. And how, friends, does a monk develop the four establishments of mindfulness, cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness? Here, friends, a monk dwells observing the body in the body... etc. 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. Thus, friends, a monk develops the four establishments of mindfulness, cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness." The eighth.