[259] "Bhikkhus, beings are defiled by the defilement of the mind (citta); beings are purified by the cleansing (vodāna) of the mind. Bhikkhus, have you seen the picture called 'Caraṇa'?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Bhikkhus, even that picture called 'Caraṇa' has been thought out by the mind itself. And even more variegated than that Caraṇa picture, bhikkhus, is the mind itself. Therefore, bhikkhus, one should frequently reflect upon one's own mind thus: 'For a long time this mind has been defiled by lust (rāga), hatred, and delusion.' Beings are defiled by the defilement of the mind; beings are purified by the cleansing of the mind.
"Bhikkhus, I do not see even one other order of beings so variegated as the creatures of the animal realm. Even those creatures of the animal realm, bhikkhus, have been thought out by the mind itself. And even more variegated than those creatures of the animal realm, bhikkhus, is the mind itself. Therefore, bhikkhus, one should frequently reflect upon one's own mind thus: 'For a long time this mind has been defiled by lust, hatred, and delusion.' Beings are defiled by the defilement of the mind; beings are purified by the cleansing of the mind.
"Suppose, bhikkhus, a dyer or a painter, when there is dye, or lac, or turmeric, or indigo, or crimson, would create the figure of a woman or the figure of a man, complete in all its major and minor parts, upon a well-polished plank, or upon a wall, or upon a strip of cloth. Even so, bhikkhus, the uninstructed worldling, in producing, produces only form; only feeling (vedanā) …; only perception …; only volitional formations …; in producing, produces only consciousness.
"What do you think, bhikkhus: is form permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is feeling … perception … volitional formations … consciousness permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Therefore, bhikkhus … seeing thus … he understands: '… there is no further for this state of being.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.