[470] "Bhikkhus, suppose a man, having taken a loan, were to apply himself to his work, and those works of his were to succeed. He would pay off in full the old debts that were the original principal, and there would be a surplus remaining for the support of a wife. It would occur to him: 'Formerly, having taken a loan, I applied myself to my work, and those works of mine succeeded. I have paid off in full the old (debts), and there remains for me a surplus for the support of a wife.' On that account he would gain gladness and attain joy.
"Bhikkhus, suppose a man were afflicted, suffering, gravely ill; his food would not agree with him, and there would be no strength in his body. At a later time he would be freed from that affliction; his food would agree with him, and there would be strength in his body. It would occur to him: 'Formerly I was afflicted, suffering, gravely ill; my food did not agree with me, and there was no strength in my body. Now I am freed from that affliction; my food agrees with me, and there is strength in my body.' On that account he would gain gladness and attain joy.
"Bhikkhus, suppose a man were bound in a prison. At a later time he would be released from that bondage, safe and secure, with no loss whatever of his possessions. It would occur to him: 'Formerly I was bound in a prison. Now I am released from that bondage, safe and secure, and there is no loss whatever of my possessions.' On that account he would gain gladness and attain joy.
"Bhikkhus, suppose a man were a slave, not his own master, dependent on others, unable to go where he wishes. At a later time he would be freed from that slavery, his own master, independent of others, a freedman, able to go where he wishes. It would occur to him: 'Formerly I was a slave, not my own master, dependent on others, unable to go where I wished. Now I am freed from that slavery, my own master, independent of others, a freedman, able to go where I wish.' On that account he would gain gladness and attain joy.
"Bhikkhus, suppose a man with wealth and possessions were to set out on a road through a desert. At a later time he would cross over that desert, safe and secure, with no loss whatever of his possessions. It would occur to him: 'Formerly, with wealth and possessions, I set out on a road through a desert. Now I have crossed over that desert, safe and secure, and there is no loss whatever of my possessions.' On that account he would gain gladness and attain joy.
"Even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu regards these five hindrances (nīvaraṇa), so long as they are unabandoned in himself, as a debt, as a disease, as a prison, as slavery, as a road through a desert. And just as freedom from debt, as health, as release from bondage, as freedom from slavery, as a land of safety — even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu regards these five hindrances when they are abandoned in himself."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.