“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as this mind that is tamed, guarded, protected, and restrained. A tamed, guarded, protected, and restrained mind is very beneficial.”
Numbered Discourses 1.41–50 The Chapter on a Spike
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“Mendicants, suppose a spike of rice or barley was pointing the wrong way. If you trod on it with hand or foot, it is impossible for it to break the skin and produce blood. Why is that? Because the spike is pointing the wrong way. In the same way, it is quite impossible for a mendicant whose mind is pointing the wrong way to break ignorance, produce knowledge, and realize extinguishment. Why is that? Because their mind is pointing the wrong way.” 42 “Mendicants, suppose a spike of rice or barley was pointing the right way. If you trod on it with hand or foot, it’s possible it may break the skin and produce blood. Why is that? Because the spike is pointing the right way. In the same way, it is quite possible for a mendicant whose mind is pointing the right way to break ignorance, produce knowledge, and realize extinguishment. Why is that? Because the mind is pointing the right way.” 43