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THE MIND [1] The trepidating restless stuff of the mind is hard to guard, hard to control. The intelligent man straightens it even as an arrow maker straightens an arrow. [2] Born of water, the fish
strains and struggles when thrown on land from out of its watery dwelling, even
so does the mind stuff when freed from the dominion of Mara. [3] Hard to master, unstable, wayward is the mind-stuff. It is good to be able to control it. A controlled mind-stuff brings happiness. [4] Hard to grasp, extremely
clever, moving as it pleases, the
Page – 203 mind-stuff is to be kept under control. A well-guarded mind stuff brings happiness. [5] It wanders far, it wanders alone, it has no body, it dwells in the cavern of the heart. He who brings it under control, is liberated from the bondages of Mara. [6] One who has an unsteady mind, one who knows not the true Law, whose clarity is overwhelmed can never have this wisdom perfected. [7] One whose thoughts are never dissipated, whose mind is never perplexed, who has gone beyond good and evil, one who is thus wakeful has nothing to fear. [8] Know this body to be a
mere earthen pot. Establish this mind like a city. And with knowledge as your
weapon fight with Mara; guard preciously what you have conquered. [9] Lo, this body before long will lie prostrate on the ground, even as a valueless, senseless, useless piece of log. [10] Whatever a hater may do to a hater, whatever an enemy may do to an enemy, more evil is done by a misdirected mind. [11] Neither the father nor the
mother nor any other relative can do as much good as a well-directed mind does.
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