…Anyone who has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body includes all of the skillful qualities that play a part in realization. Anyone who brings into their mind the great ocean includes all of the streams that run down into it. In the same way, anyone who has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body includes all of the skillful qualities that play a part in realization.
When a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets hold of them. Suppose a person were to throw a heavy stone ball at a mound of wet clay.
What do you think, mendicants? Would that heavy stone ball find an entry into that mound of wet clay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets hold of them.
Suppose there was a dried up, withered log. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat.
What do you think, mendicants? By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log, could they light a fire and produce heat?”
“Yes, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets hold of them.
Suppose a water jar was placed on a stand, empty and hollow. Then a person comes along with a load of water.
What do you think, mendicants? Could that person pour water into the jar?”
“Yes, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets hold of them.
When a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get hold of them.
Suppose a person were to throw a light ball of string at a door-panel made entirely of hardwood.
What do you think, mendicants? Would that light ball of string find an entry into that door-panel made entirely of hardwood?”
“No, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get hold of them.
Suppose there was a green, sappy log. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat.
What do you think, mendicants? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”
“No, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get hold of them. Suppose a water jar was placed on a stand, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then a person comes along with a load of water.
What do you think, mendicants? Could that person pour water into the jar?”
“No, sir.”
“In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get hold of them.
When a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, they extend the mind to realize by insight each and every thing that can be realized by insight; and they are capable of realizing those things, since each and every one is within range.…
Read the entire translation of Majjhima Nikāya 119 Kāyagatāsatisutta: Mindfulness of the Body by Bhikkhu Sujato on SuttaCentral.net. Or read a different translation on DhammaTalks.org or Ancient-Buddhist-Texts.net. Or listen on PaliAudio.com or SC-Voice.net. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.
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