[261] Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu dwells not devoted to development (bhāvanānuyoga), even though such a wish might arise in him: "Oh, that my mind (citta) might be liberated from the taints (āsava) through non-clinging!" — yet his mind is not liberated from the taints through non-clinging. For what reason? "Because of non-development," it should be said. Because of not developing what? Because of not developing the four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna), because of not developing the four right strivings (sammappadhāna), because of not developing the four bases of spiritual power (iddhipāda), because of not developing the five faculties (indriya), because of not developing the five powers (bala), because of not developing the seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga), because of not developing the Noble Eightfold Path (magga).
Suppose, bhikkhus, there were a hen's eggs — eight, ten, or twelve — and they had not been properly sat upon, not properly warmed, not properly incubated by the hen. Even though such a wish might arise in that hen: "Oh, that my chicks might break through the eggshell with the points of their claws or with their beaks and hatch forth safely!" — still those chicks would be incapable of breaking through the eggshell with the points of their claws or with their beaks and hatching forth safely. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the hen's eggs — eight, ten, or twelve — had not been properly sat upon, not properly warmed, not properly incubated by the hen.
Just so, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu dwells not devoted to development, even though such a wish might arise in him: "Oh, that my mind might be liberated from the taints through non-clinging!" — yet his mind is not liberated from the taints through non-clinging. For what reason? "Because of non-development," it should be said. Because of not developing what? Because of not developing the four establishments of mindfulness, because of not developing the four right strivings, because of not developing the four bases of spiritual power, because of not developing the five faculties, because of not developing the five powers, because of not developing the seven factors of awakening, because of not developing the Noble Eightfold Path.
Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu dwells devoted to development, even though such a wish might arise in him: "Oh, that my mind might be liberated from the taints through non-clinging!" — yet his mind is liberated from the taints through non-clinging. For what reason? "Because of development," it should be said. Because of developing what? Because of developing the four establishments of mindfulness, because of developing the four right strivings, because of developing the four bases of spiritual power, because of developing the five faculties, because of developing the five powers, because of developing the seven factors of awakening, because of developing the Noble Eightfold Path.
Suppose, bhikkhus, there were a hen's eggs — eight, ten, or twelve — and they had been properly sat upon, properly warmed, properly incubated by the hen. Even though no such wish might arise in that hen: "Oh, that my chicks might break through the eggshell with the points of their claws or with their beaks and hatch forth safely!" — still those chicks are capable of breaking through the eggshell with the points of their claws or with their beaks and hatching forth safely. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the hen's eggs — eight, ten, or twelve — had been properly sat upon, properly warmed, properly incubated by the hen.
Just so, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu dwells devoted to development, even though no such wish might arise in him: "Oh, that my mind might be liberated from the taints through non-clinging!" — yet his mind is liberated from the taints through non-clinging. For what reason? "Because of development," it should be said. Because of developing what? Because of developing the four establishments of mindfulness, because of developing the four right strivings, because of developing the four bases of spiritual power, because of developing the five faculties, because of developing the five powers, because of developing the seven factors of awakening, because of developing the Noble Eightfold Path.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.