12.
The Discourse on the River
160.
"Just as, monks, 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, monks, would that great multitude of people make the river Ganges slant towards the west, slope towards the west, incline towards the west?"
"No, Venerable Sir."
"What is the reason for this?"
"The river Ganges, Venerable Sir, 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 weariness and vexation."
"So too, monks, a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path - 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, monks, that monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, having rejected the training, will return to the lower life -
this is impossible.
What is the reason for this?
For that mind, monks, 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, monks, does a monk develop the noble eightfold path, cultivate the noble eightfold path?
Here, monks, a monk develops right view, based upon seclusion, etc.
he develops right concentration, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, etc.
Thus, monks, a monk develops the noble eightfold path, cultivates the noble eightfold path."
The twelfth.