[52] There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, bhikkhus!" "Friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said this: "If, friends, a bhikkhu is not skilled in the ways of the minds of others, then [he should train thus]: 'We shall be skilled in the ways of our own mind (citta)' — thus indeed, friends, should you train.
"And how, friends, is a bhikkhu skilled in the ways of his own mind? Suppose, friends, a woman or a man — young, youthful, fond of adornment — examining the image of his own face in a clean, bright mirror or in a bowl of clear water: if he sees dust or a blemish there, he strives for the removal of that very dust or blemish; but if he sees no dust or blemish there, he is pleased by that very fact, his aspiration fulfilled: 'It is a gain for me indeed! It is clean for me indeed!' In the same way, friends, self-examination is of great help to a bhikkhu with regard to wholesome states: 'Do I dwell for the most part covetous, or do I dwell for the most part uncovetous? Do I dwell for the most part with a mind of ill will, or do I dwell for the most part with a mind free of ill will? Do I dwell for the most part overcome by dullness and drowsiness, or do I dwell for the most part rid of dullness and drowsiness? Do I dwell for the most part restless, or do I dwell for the most part unrestless? Do I dwell for the most part with doubt, or do I dwell for the most part having crossed over doubt? Do I dwell for the most part angry, or do I dwell for the most part without anger? Do I dwell for the most part with a defiled mind, or do I dwell for the most part with an undefiled mind? Do I dwell for the most part with an agitated body, or do I dwell for the most part with an unagitated body? Do I dwell for the most part lazy, or do I dwell for the most part with energy aroused? Do I dwell for the most part unconcentrated, or do I dwell for the most part concentrated?'
"If, friends, when reviewing, a bhikkhu knows thus: 'I dwell for the most part covetous … I dwell for the most part unconcentrated,' then, friends, that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, exertion, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness (sati), and clear comprehension (sampajañña) for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states. Just as, friends, one whose clothes were ablaze or whose head was ablaze would apply extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, exertion, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the extinguishing of that very [fire on his] clothes or head, in the same way, friends, that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, exertion, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states.
"But if, friends, when reviewing, a bhikkhu knows thus: 'I dwell for the most part uncovetous … I dwell for the most part concentrated,' then, friends, that bhikkhu, established in those very wholesome states, should make further effort for the destruction of the taints (āsava)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.