佛說不自守意經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika. At that time he addressed the bhikṣus, saying that the bhikṣus should keep silent. The Buddha said, "Listen, I shall speak about guarding oneself (the mind) and not guarding oneself (the mind)."

The bhikṣus joined their palms and listened attentively to the words of the Buddha. The Buddha said to the bhikṣus, "For what reason is it called not guarding oneself? If the eye is not closed, or the eye falls into the consciousness of forms, the mind at once runs and races; the mind having run and raced, one then does not attain concentration of mind; not having attained concentration of mind, one cannot know in accordance with reality; the principle of the true existence (of all dharmas) being not understood, one likewise cannot see true existence; not understanding and not seeing true existence, one cannot relinquish the defilements of karma, nor can one escape from ignorance, and is then bound by the various other causes and conditions.

From this mistaken perception to another mistaken perception, one is led to suffering and lack of peace. Spoken thus, the ear is also so, the nose is also so, the mouth is also so, the body is also so, and the mind is also so; to be acted upon in this way is called not guarding oneself."

The Buddha said to the bhikṣus, "For what reason is it called guarding oneself? If one guards the eye, restraining eye-consciousness from falling into forms, the mind then does not run and race; the mind having not run and raced, one attains peace and joy; having peace and joy, one attains concentration of mind; having attained concentration of mind, one then clearly comprehends the knowing of true existence (the knowledge of true existence) and clearly comprehends the seeing of true existence (the vision of true existence); having clearly comprehended true knowledge and true vision, one relinquishes the defilements of karma and escapes from ignorance, and there is nothing that is not in accordance with reality, and thereby one attains wisdom, and the mind becomes peaceful.

The six sense-faculties are likewise spoken of in this way, and this is called guarding oneself. What has been said about guarding oneself and not guarding oneself is just so."

When the Buddha had spoken thus, all rejoiced and received it in faith.