7.
The Discourse on the Monkey
373.
"There are, monks, in the Himalaya, the king of mountains, difficult and uneven regions, where there is no passage for monkeys nor for human beings.
There are, monks, in the Himalaya, the king of mountains, difficult and uneven regions, where there is indeed passage for monkeys, but not for human beings.
There are, monks, in the Himalaya, the king of mountains, level and delightful tracts of land, where there is passage for both monkeys and human beings.
There, monks, huntsmen lay down sticky traps on the monkey paths for catching monkeys.
"There, monks, those monkeys who are not foolish by nature, not greedy by nature, having seen that sticky trap, avoid it from afar. But that monkey who is foolish by nature, greedy by nature, having approached that sticky trap, grasps it with his hand. He is caught there. Thinking 'I will free my hand,' he grasps it with his second hand. He is caught there. Thinking 'I will free both hands,' he grasps it with his foot. He is caught there. Thinking 'I will free both hands and my foot,' he grasps it with his second foot. He is caught there. Thinking 'I will free both hands and both feet,' he grasps it with his snout. He is caught there. Thus indeed, monks, that monkey, trapped in five ways, lies groaning, having fallen into calamity, having fallen into disaster, subject to be done with as wished by the huntsman. Then, monks, the huntsman, having pierced him, having roasted him right there over a charcoal fire made of wood, departs wherever he wishes. 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 seventh.