Citta Vagga - The Mind
“Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states.
Mind is chief; and they are mind-made.
If one speaks or acts with a corrupt mind,
Suffering follows as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox.”
The flickering, fickle mind, difficult to guard, difficult to control —
the wise person straightens it as a fletcher straightens an arrow.
Like a fish that is drawn from its watery abode and thrown upon land, even so does this mind flutter. Hence should the realm of the passions be shunned.
The mind is hard to restrain, swift, it flies wherever it likes:
To control it is good. A controlled mind is conducive to happiness.
The mind is very hard to perceive, extremely subtle, flits wherever it lists. Let the wise person guard it; a guarded mind is conducive to happiness.
Faring far, wandering alone, bodiless, lying in a cave, is the mind.
Those who subdue it are freed from the bond of Māra.
He whose mind is not steadfast, he who knows not the true doctrine, he whose confidence wavers — the wisdom of such a one will never be perfect.
He whose mind is not soaked (by lust) he who is not affected (by hatred), he who has transcended both good and evil —
for such a vigilant one there is no fear.
Before long, alas! This body will lie upon the ground, cast aside, devoid of consciousness, even as a useless charred log.
Whatever (harm) a foe may do to a foe, or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind can do one far greater (harm).
What neither mother, nor father, nor any other relative can do, a well-directed mind does and thereby elevates one.