治意經

The Buddha taught:

—When Ānāpāna Mindfulness has already been practiced fully and in accordance with the Dharma, and one wishes to train step by step as the Buddha taught, then one becomes luminous within the world, just as when there are no clouds the moon appears. One must establish the body, establish the mind, and establish them likewise when lying down and when sitting. When the bhikkhu has already established himself upon the mind, then in this way the earlier and the later accord with each other and benefit is gained.

Once the earlier and the later have already brought benefit, the practitioner is no longer obstructed by the mind. When the mind has already come to rest, one must guard the six thieves (the six declines), one must constantly stand watch and never abandon the task midway, and only then can the unconditioned body be known. If one constantly keeps the mind on guard, the body comes to rest; one neither hopes nor wishes for existence, one neither doubts that there is existence nor doubts that there is non-existence.

Acting step by step amid what is doubtful, one will soon be delivered from birth and death. If one understands the mind, knows concentration, delights in purity, and constantly contemplates the Dharma, then one can be delivered from old age and sickness. Thus, regarding sickness, one should be alarmed and so should be diligent.

When, in the mind of the person of the Way, the bondage of birth and old age can be cut off, then in this very life the ending of suffering can be attained. Having awakened to the matter of sleep, having conquered the fondness for lying down, through alertness one is no longer afraid. Using diligence to conquer sleep, alert by day and by night, one seeks the ambrosia in order to extinguish suffering.

By this, human beings gain benefit. Having taken refuge in the Buddha, at midnight one must constantly remember the Buddha; whoever has awakened becomes awakened. A disciple of the Buddha must constantly do thus.

If at midnight one is mindful of the Dharma and mindful of the Saṅgha, it is likewise; practicing the precepts is likewise; giving is likewise; guarding the body is likewise; practicing meditation is likewise; not encroaching upon others is likewise; concentrating the mind is likewise; with emptiness it is likewise; having awakened it is likewise—one constantly awakens for the sake of the Buddha's disciples. Doing thus at midnight, one will not fall into deluded thoughts.

Question: —What is it to know the unconditioned body?

The Master answered: —Nirvāṇa is the unconditioned body.

—What is cultivation according to the steps?

—Having already arrived there, one then discards the steps. This is cultivation according to the steps.

—What is the Dharma-contemplation in all times?

—When the six entrances arrive, one then keeps them in check. This is contemplating the Dharma at all times.

—What makes the person of the Way obtain mastery of mind?

—Teach the person diligence: first one must practice mastery of mind, the body guarding itself, the mind guarding itself, doing merit for oneself; and because the merit in the heavenly realm is not yet complete, one keeps it oneself so as to make the merit complete, and then one attains meditative absorption.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA ON GOVERNING THE MIND