[283] "Māgaṇḍiya, suppose there were a man afflicted with leprosy, his limbs covered with sores, his limbs festering, being devoured by worms, scratching the openings of his wounds with his nails, scorching his body over a pit of glowing coals. His friends and companions, his relatives and kinsmen, would engage a physician, a surgeon, to treat him. That physician, that surgeon, would prepare medicine for him; and relying on that medicine he would be freed from leprosy and would be healthy, happy, free, his own master, able to go wherever he wished. He might then see another man afflicted with leprosy, his limbs covered with sores, his limbs festering, being devoured by worms, scratching the openings of his wounds with his nails, scorching his body over a pit of glowing coals. What do you think, Māgaṇḍiya — would that man envy that leprous man for his pit of glowing coals or for his use of medicine?"
"No indeed, Master Gotama. Why is that? Because when there is disease, there is something to be done with medicine; when there is no disease, there is nothing to be done with medicine."
"Even so, Māgaṇḍiya, formerly, when I was living the household life, I amused myself, endowed and furnished with the five cords of sensual pleasure: with forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, likable, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust; with sounds cognizable by the ear …; with odours cognizable by the nose …; with tastes cognizable by the tongue …; with tangibles cognizable by the body that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, likable, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust. At a later time, having understood as it really is (yathābhūta) the origin, the disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in regard to sensual pleasures, having abandoned craving (taṇhā) for sensual pleasures and dispelled the fever of sensual pleasures, I dwell rid of thirst, with a mind (citta) inwardly at peace. I see other beings who are not free from lust for sensual pleasures being devoured by craving for sensual pleasures, being burned by the fever of sensual pleasures, indulging in sensual pleasures; and I do not envy them, nor do I delight therein. Why is that? Because there is, Māgaṇḍiya, a delight apart from sensual pleasures, apart from unwholesome states, which stands having surpassed even heavenly happiness; delighting in that delight, I do not envy what is inferior, nor do I delight therein."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.