[33] Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans, at Mātulā. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!" "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge. And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell with himself as an island, with himself as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge?
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body (kāyānupassanā), ardent (ātāpī), clearly comprehending (sampajāno), possessed of mindfulness (sati), having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world (abhijjhā-domanassa). In feelings (vedanā), contemplating feelings … In the mind (citta), contemplating the mind … He dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas, ardent, clearly comprehending, possessed of mindfulness, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world.
Thus indeed, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell with himself as an island, with himself as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge.
Move, bhikkhus, within your own pasture, your ancestral domain. For those who move within their own pasture, their ancestral domain, Māra will not gain an opening; Māra will not gain a foothold. It is because of the undertaking of skillful qualities, bhikkhus, that this merit thus increases."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.