[164] Bhikkhus, there are these four modes of practice (paṭipadā). What four? The impatient practice (akkhamā paṭipadā), the patient practice (khamā paṭipadā), the taming practice (damā paṭipadā), and the calming practice (samā paṭipadā).
And what, bhikkhus, is the impatient practice? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person abuses back one who abuses him, angers back one who angers him, and quarrels back with one who quarrels with him. This, bhikkhus, is called the impatient practice.
And what, bhikkhus, is the patient practice? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person does not abuse back one who abuses him, does not anger back one who angers him, and does not quarrel back with one who quarrels with him. This, bhikkhus, is called the patient practice.
And what, bhikkhus, is the taming practice? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, does not grasp at its sign (nimitta) nor grasp at its features (anubyañjana). Since, if he were to dwell with the eye faculty unrestrained, evil, unwholesome states of covetousness and grief (abhijjhā-domanassa) might flow in upon him, he practices for its restraint; he guards the eye faculty; he undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty. Having heard a sound with the ear … having smelled an odour with the nose … having tasted a flavour with the tongue … having touched a tangible object with the body … having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, he does not grasp at its sign nor grasp at its features. Since, if he were to dwell with the mind faculty unrestrained, evil, unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might flow in upon him, he practices for its restraint; he guards the mind faculty; he undertakes the restraint of the mind faculty. This, bhikkhus, is called the taming practice.
And what, bhikkhus, is the calming practice? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu does not tolerate an arisen thought of sensual pleasures; he abandons it, dispels it, calms it, terminates it, and brings it to non-existence. He does not tolerate an arisen thought of ill will … an arisen thought of harming … he does not tolerate evil, unwholesome states whenever they arise; he abandons them, dispels them, calms them, terminates them, and brings them to non-existence. This, bhikkhus, is called the calming practice.
These, bhikkhus, are the four modes of practice.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.