[1279] On one occasion the Venerable Anuruddha was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Salaḷāgāra. There the Venerable Anuruddha addressed the bhikkhus … and said this: "Friends, suppose the river Gaṅgā slants toward the east, slopes toward the east, inclines toward the east. Then a great crowd of people would come, taking hoe and basket, thinking: 'We shall make this river Gaṅgā slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west.' What do you think, friends—could that great crowd of people make the river Gaṅgā slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"For what reason?"
"Friend, the river Gaṅgā slants toward the east, slopes toward the east, inclines toward the east; it is not easy to make it slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west. That great crowd of people would only reap weariness and vexation."
"Even so, friends, when a bhikkhu is developing the four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna) and cultivating the four establishments of mindfulness, kings or kings' chief ministers, friends or colleagues, relatives or kinsmen might invite him to accept wealth, saying: 'Come, good man! Why let these ochre robes consume you? Why wander about with shaven head and begging bowl? Come, having returned to the lower life, enjoy wealth and do meritorious deeds.' Indeed, friends, that a bhikkhu who is developing the four establishments of mindfulness, who is cultivating the four establishments of mindfulness, will give up the training and return to the lower life—this is impossible. For what reason? Because, friends, when the mind (citta) has for a long time slanted toward seclusion, sloped toward seclusion, inclined toward seclusion, that it will thus return to the lower life—this is impossible."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.