Saṁyutta Nikāya:
V. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṁyutta
III. Micchatta Vagga

The Great Chapter,
Book I (Chapter 45): Kindred Sayings on the Way
Chapter III: Perversion

Sutta 27

Kumbha Suttaṁ

The Pot

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, a pot without support¹
is easily upset,²
and one with support is hard to upset,
even so, monks, the mind that is without support
is easily upset,
the mind that has support is hard to upset.

And what, monks, is the support of mind?|| ||

It is just this Ariyan eightfold way,
to wit:

Right view,
right aim,
right speech,
right action,
right living,
right effort,
right mindfulness
right concentration.|| ||

This is the mind's support.

"Just as, monks, a pot without support
is easily upset,
and one with support is hard to upset,
even so, monks, the mind that is without support
is easily upset,
the mind that has support is hard to upset.

 

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¹ Anādhāro.

² Suppavattiyo. Comy. reads suppavattanīyo, 'rolls at random.'