Gilayana Sutta
Illness
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion Ven. Anuruddha was staying near Savatthi in the Dark Forest — diseased, in pain, severely ill. Then a large number of monks went to Ven. Anuruddha and on arrival said to him, “What mental dwelling are you dwelling in so that the pains that have arisen in the body do not invade or remain in the mind?”
“When I dwell with my mind well-established in the four frames of reference, the pains that have arisen in the body do not invade or remain in the mind. Which four? There is the case where I remain focused on the body in and of itself — ardent, alert, and mindful — putting aside greed and distress with reference to the world. I remain focused on feelings in and of themselves… mind in and of itself… mental qualities in and of themselves — ardent, alert, and mindful — putting aside greed and distress with reference to the world. When I dwell with my mind well-established in these four frames of reference, the pains that have arisen in the body do not invade or remain in the mind.”