[350] Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to catch six animals of different domains and different feeding grounds and bind them with a strong rope. Having caught a snake … having caught a crocodile … having caught a dog; having caught a jackal; having caught a monkey, he would bind it with a strong rope; and having bound them with a strong rope, he would tether them to a strong post or pillar. Then, bhikkhus, those six animals of different domains and different feeding grounds would each pull towards its own feeding ground and domain. The snake would pull, thinking, "I will enter an anthill." The crocodile would pull, thinking, "I will enter the water." The bird would pull, thinking, "I will fly into the sky." The dog would pull, thinking, "I will enter the village." The jackal would pull, thinking, "I will enter the charnel ground (sivathikā)." The monkey would pull, thinking, "I will enter the forest." But when, bhikkhus, those six animals became worn out and fatigued, they would stand close by, sit close by, and lie close by that very post or pillar.
So too, bhikkhus, when any bhikkhu has developed and cultivated mindfulness directed to the body (kāyagatāsati), the eye does not pull him towards agreeable forms, nor are disagreeable forms repulsive to him … the tongue does not pull him … the mind does not pull him towards agreeable dhammas, nor are disagreeable dhammas repulsive to him. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that there is restraint (saṃvara).
"A strong post or pillar," bhikkhus: this is a designation for mindfulness directed to the body. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: "Mindfulness directed to the body shall be developed and cultivated by us, made a vehicle, made a basis, stabilized, consolidated, and well undertaken." Thus indeed, bhikkhus, should you train yourselves. The tenth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.