10.
The Discourse on the Cat
232.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī.
Now at that time a certain monk was visiting families for a protracted time.
The monks said this to him -
"Let not the venerable one visit families for a protracted time."
That monk, when spoken to by the monks, did not desist.
Then several monks approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Here, venerable sir, a certain monk is visiting families for a protracted time.
The monks said this to him -
'Let not the venerable one visit families for a protracted time.'
That monk, when spoken to by the monks, does not desist."
"Once in the past, monks, a cat stood at a doorway, a sewer, or a rubbish heap, seeking a tender mouse - 'When this tender mouse goes out for food, right there having seized it, I will eat it.' Then, monks, that tender mouse went out for food. The cat, having seized it, hastily chewed and swallowed it. That tender mouse ate his intestines and ate his mesentery. On that account he underwent death and suffering like death.
"So too, monks, here a certain monk, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters a village or a market town for almsfood with body unguarded, with speech unguarded, with mind unguarded, with mindfulness not established, with faculties unrestrained. He there sees a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed. Having seen a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed, lust assails his mind. He, with mind assailed by lust, undergoes death or suffering like death. For this is death, monks, in the Noble One's discipline: whoever, having rejected the training, returns to the lower life. For this is suffering like death, monks: that one commits a certain defiled offence. For such an offence emergence is discerned. Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'With body guarded, with speech guarded, with mind guarded, with mindfulness established, with faculties restrained, we will enter a village or a market town for almsfood.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The tenth.