The Pali version and the English translation at Sutta Central: “Assutavā Sutta (SN 12.61)“
The main point the Buddha tried to explain is the following:
- Our physical bodies change relatively slowly, especially after the teenage years.
- However, our minds change even moment-to-moment. Like a monkey jumping from tree to tree, our minds quickly jump from one arammana to another. Think about it. Within a day, one’s mindset can change from a relaxed mindset to an angry mindset to a generous mindset and back and forth many times.
- But one firmly believes one’s mind is one’s own, even more than to think of one’s body as one’s own.
This point needs to be addressed in detail at some point. A mind works like a machine, according to specific rules. Even though we think it is “my mind”, it really is not. It can “change on a dime” based on one’s mindset and the type of arammana coming to it.
- For example, if one is in an angry mindset, it takes only a bit of provocation even to kill another human.
- Most rapes take place because of that: if the conditions get set up, even a “moral person” could be triggered to commit rape.
That is quite clear among animals, who don’t have developed brains to slow their actions. However, some humans act like animals because they are not used to being “mindful.”
- Because the mind works like a machine, it will AUTOMATICALLY stop engaging in “apayagami actions” after reaching the Sotapanna stage or stop getting attached to sensual pleasures after the Anagami stage.
- There is no “me” controlling such actions. It happens automatically.
