A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be energetic …

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be wise …

But then, a mendicant grounded on these five things should develop four further things. They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of impermanence to uproot the conceit ‘I am’. When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized. Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Lesser thoughts and subtle thoughts arise, springing up in the mind. Not understanding these thoughts, one with mind astray runs from one thing to the next.