[53] "Householder, suppose there were a dense forest grove not far from a village or town, and in it there were a tree possessed of excellent fruit and laden with fruit, but no fruits whatsoever had fallen to the ground. Then a man might come along in need of fruit, seeking fruit, wandering in search of fruit. Having plunged into that forest grove, he would see that tree possessed of excellent fruit and laden with fruit. It might occur to him: 'This tree is possessed of excellent fruit and laden with fruit, and no fruits whatsoever have fallen to the ground. But I know how to climb a tree. Suppose I were to climb this tree, eat as much as I wish, and fill the fold of my garment.' Having climbed that tree, he would eat as much as he wished and fill the fold of his garment. Then a second man might come along in need of fruit, seeking fruit, wandering in search of fruit, carrying a sharp axe. Having plunged into that forest grove, he would see that tree possessed of excellent fruit and laden with fruit. It might occur to him: 'This tree is possessed of excellent fruit and laden with fruit, and no fruits whatsoever have fallen to the ground. But I do not know how to climb a tree. Suppose I were to cut this tree down at the root, eat as much as I wish, and fill the fold of my garment.' He would cut that tree down at the root. What do you think, householder? If that man who first climbed the tree did not quickly come down, would not that tree, in falling, break his hand, or break his foot, or break some one or another of his limbs, so that on that account he would incur death or suffering (dukkha) verging on death?"
"So it is, venerable sir."
"Even so, householder, a noble disciple reflects thus: 'Sensual pleasures (kāmā) have been said by the Blessed One to be comparable to a fruit tree: of much suffering, of much despair; the danger here is still greater.' Having thus seen this as it really is with right wisdom, he avoids the equanimity (upekkhā) that is diversified and based on diversity, and develops only the equanimity that is unified and based on unity, wherein graspings after worldly material things (lokāmisa) cease altogether without remainder."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.