The Mind

Quivering, wavering,
hard to guard,
to hold in check:
    the mind.
The sage makes it straight --
like a fletcher,
the shaft of an arrow.

Like a fish
pulled from its home in the water
& thrown on land:
this mind flips & flaps about
    to escape Mara's sway.

Hard to hold down,
    nimble,
alighting wherever it likes:
    the mind.
Its taming is good.
The mind well-tamed
    brings ease.

So hard to see,
so very, very subtle,
alighting wherever it likes:
    the mind.
The wise should guard it.
The mind protected
    brings ease.

Wandering far,
going alone,
bodiless,
lying in a cave:
    the mind.
Those who restrain it:
    from Mara's bonds
    they'll be freed.

38:

For a person of unsteady mind,
not knowing true Dhamma,
    serenity
    set         adrift:
discernment doesn't grow full.

39*:

For a person of unsoddened mind,
            unassaulted awareness,
abandoning merit & evil,
    wakeful,
there is no danger
        no fear.

40*:

Knowing this body
    is like a clay jar,
securing this mind
    like a fort,
        attack Mara
    with the spear of discernment,
then guard what's won
    without settling there,
    without laying claim.

41:

All too soon, this body
will lie on the ground
    cast off,
bereft of consciousness,
like a useless scrap
    of wood.

42-43*:

Whatever an enemy might do
to an enemy,
or a foe to a foe,
the ill-directed mind
can do to you
    even worse.

Whatever a mother, father
or other kinsman
might do for you,
the well-directed mind
can do for you
    even better.