Thus have I heard:
One time, the Budha was staying at Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
At that time, the Bhagavaan addressed the Bhikshus: “You should cultivate one Dharma, you should widely proclaim one Dharma. Having cultivated and proclaimed this one Dharma, you will attain spiritual powers, all activities will be pacified, you will achieve the fruit of the Shramana, and reach the realm of Nirvana.
What is this one Dharma? It is called ‘non-negligence.’
What is non-negligence? It means guarding the mind.
How does one guard the mind? O Bhikshus! Constantly guard the mind against defilements and defiled phenomena. When one guards the mind against defilements and defiled phenomena, one attains joy in the Dharma, gains faith and delight, abides unshaken, constantly focuses the mind, and diligently exerts oneself.
“Thus, O Bhikshus! One who practices non-negligence is ever vigilant.
Unarisen sensual defilements do not arise; arisen sensual defilements are abandoned.
Unarisen existence-defilements do not arise; arisen existence-defilements are abandoned.
Unarisen ignorance-defilements do not arise; arisen ignorance-defilements are abandoned.
A Bhikshu who practices non-negligence, dwelling in solitude, constantly self-aware and delighting in meditation, is liberated from the mind of sensual defilements, the mind of existence-defilements, and the mind of ignorance-defilements.
Being liberated, one attains the knowledge of liberation: ‘Birth is exhausted, the noble life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no further becoming.’ Thus one knows truly.”
Then, the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“The path of humility leads to nectar,
negligence is the path of death.
The humble do not die;
the arrogant are already dead.”
“Therefore, O Bhikshus! You should remember to practice non-negligence. Thus, O Bhikshus, you should train yourselves.”
When the bhikshus heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.