The Untamed Mind (AN 1.31 - 40) ( lemmy.world )

AN 1.31

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when untamed, leads to such great harm as the mind. An untamed mind, bhikkhus, leads to great harm."

AN 1.32

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when tamed, leads to such great benefit as the mind. A tamed mind, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit."

AN 1.33

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when unguarded, leads to such great harm as the mind. An unguarded mind, bhikkhus, leads to great harm."

AN 1.34

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when guarded, leads to such great benefit as the mind. A guarded mind, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit."

AN 1.35

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when unprotected, leads to such great harm as the mind. An unprotected mind, bhikkhus, leads to great harm."

AN 1.36

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when protected, leads to such great benefit as the mind. A protected mind, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit."

AN 1.37

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when unrestrained, leads to such great harm as the mind. An unrestrained mind, bhikkhus, leads to great harm."

AN 1.38

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when restrained, leads to such great benefit as the mind. A restrained mind, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit."

AN 1.39

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, leads to such great harm as the mind. A mind that is untamed, unguarded, unprotected, and unrestrained, bhikkhus, leads to great harm."

AN 1.40

"Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single thing that, when tamed, guarded, protected, and restrained, leads to such great benefit as the mind. A mind that is tamed, guarded, protected, and restrained, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit."

In these short teachings, the Buddha is contrasting the potential benefits the mind can lead to when properly trained and cultivated with the potential harm it can lead to when left on its own.

Related Teachings:

Guarding the mind (DhP 35 - 37) - DhammaPada verses on the nature of the mind.

Intention shapes all phenomena (From AN) - Short teachings on understanding intention and kamma.