And what, mendicants, is the danger of whirlpools? It’s when a gentleman has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness … When they’ve gone forth, they robe up in the morning and, taking their bowl and robe, enter a village or town for alms without guarding body, speech, and mind, without establishing mindfulness, and without restraining the sense faculties. There they see a householder or their child amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. They think: ‘Formerly, as laypeople, we amused ourselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. And it’s true that my family is wealthy. I can both enjoy my wealth and make merit. Why don’t I resign the training and return to a lesser life, so I can enjoy my wealth and make merit?’ They resign the training and return to a lesser life. This is called a mendicant who resigns the training and returns to a lesser life for fear of the danger of whirlpools. ‘Danger of whirlpools’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called the danger of whirlpools.

And what, mendicants, is the danger of sharks? It’s when a gentleman has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness … When they’ve gone forth, they robe up in the morning and, taking their bowl and robe, enter a village or town for alms without guarding body, speech, and mind, without establishing mindfulness, and without restraining the sense faculties. There they see a lady scantily clad, with revealing clothes. Lust infects their mind, so they resign the training and return to a lesser life. This is called a mendicant who resigns the training and returns to a lesser life because they’re afraid of the danger of sharks. ‘Danger of sharks’ is a term for ladies. This is called the danger of sharks. These are the four dangers that a gentleman gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in this teaching and training should anticipate.”

Numbered Discourses 4.123 13. Fears Difference (1st)