[329] "But what, worthy Ānanda, is that noble aggregate (khandha) of wisdom of which the worthy Gotama spoke in praise, and in which he encouraged this populace, settled them, and established them?"
"When his mind (citta) is thus concentrated (samāhita)—purified, cleansed, unblemished, rid of defilements (upakkilesa), malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability—he directs and inclines the mind to knowledge and vision (ñāṇadassana). He understands thus: 'This body of mine is material, composed of the four great elements (mahābhūta), produced by mother and father, built up from boiled rice and porridge, subject to impermanence, to being rubbed and massaged, to breaking apart and dispersal; and this consciousness (viññāṇa) of mine is supported by it, bound up with it.'
"Just as, young man, there might be a beryl gem—beautiful, of genuine origin, eight-faceted, well cut, clear, limpid, endowed with all excellent qualities—and strung through it a thread, blue or yellow or red or white or pale-yellow; and a man with good eyes, taking it in his hand, might examine it thus: 'This beryl gem is beautiful, of genuine origin, eight-faceted, well cut, clear, limpid, endowed with all excellent qualities; and strung through it is this thread, blue or yellow or red or white or pale-yellow'—even so, young man, a bhikkhu … . In that, young man, when his mind is thus concentrated—purified, cleansed, unblemished, rid of defilements, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability—a bhikkhu directs and inclines the mind to knowledge and vision, and he understands thus: 'This body of mine is material, composed of the four great elements, produced by mother and father, built up from boiled rice and porridge, subject to impermanence, to being rubbed and massaged, to breaking apart and dispersal; and this consciousness of mine is supported by it, bound up with it'—this too pertains to his wisdom."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.