[48] "Householder, suppose a vulture, a heron, or a hawk, having seized a piece of meat, were to fly off, and vultures, herons, and hawks, chasing after it again and again, were to peck at it and tear it away. What do you think, householder? If that vulture, heron, or hawk did not quickly relinquish that piece of meat, would it not on that account incur death, or suffering (dukkha) verging on death?"
"So it is, venerable sir."
"Even so, householder, a noble disciple reflects thus: 'Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a piece of meat, bringing much suffering and much despair; the danger herein is still greater.' Having seen this thus as it really is (yathābhūta) with right wisdom, he shuns that equanimity which is diversified, based on diversity, and develops only that equanimity which is unified, based on unity, wherein all clingings to the material things of the world cease utterly, without remainder."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.