佛說不自守意經

The Buddha expounds the Sūtra on Not Guarding the Mind.

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī (2), in the Jeta Grove, the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.(3)

The Buddha called the bhikṣus, and the bhikṣus replied: Yes, Master.

The Buddha said: Listen now to guarding and not guarding.

The bhikṣus joined their palms and listened to what the Buddha said.

The Buddha said to the bhikṣus: What are the causes and conditions that make for not guarding? When the eye-faculty (4) is not closed and guarded, so that the eye lets in those forms (5), consciousness, and evil mental desires (6), then it makes us reckless and dissolute; and our evil thoughts will bring us suffering and affliction. When we are afflicted with suffering, we cannot have a pure mind and pure intention. When the mind and intention are not pure, we can in no way attain sincere resolve. Thus, though the truths be there, we cannot know them, and so we do not see those truths as they truly are.

Because we have not known and have not seen those truths as they truly are, our heart cannot relinquish the fetters (7) and cross beyond doubt (8); and because we cannot relinquish the fetters and cross beyond doubt, we fall into other evil causes and conditions, into other [mistaken] understandings. Having understood otherwise, there arise suffering, affliction, and lack of peace and security (9).

So too it comes to pass with our ear, our nose, our mouth, our body, and our mind. This is what is called not guarding.

The Buddha again said to the bhikṣus: These are the causes and conditions of guarding. When the eye-faculty guards itself, it does not let the eye fall into those forms, consciousness, and evil mental desires; then it does not make us reckless and dissolute. If our thoughts are not reckless and dissolute, we attain peace and ease.

Because we attain peace and ease, we have a pure mind and pure intention. When we have a pure mind and pure intention, then we know that there is the truth as-it-is (10), we know the truth-as-it-is as it has been seen. Having known the truth as-it-is, having seen the truth as-it-is, we will relinquish the fetters and cross beyond doubt; we will not believe in things devoid of sincere resolve; we will attain the wisdom of insight; we will attain peace and security.

So it is too with the six faculties. This is what is called guarding. What I wished to say about guarding and not guarding is just this.

Thus spoke the Buddha. All rejoiced and received it in faith and upheld it.

The Buddha has expounded the Sūtra on Not Guarding the Mind.