King Milinda said: "You have declared that the Arhats feel no pain of mind though they are all subject to pain of body, but does not the mind subsist because of the body? Is the Arhat without authority, mastery, or supremacy over the body?"
Nagasena replied: "It is even so."
Milinda said: "This does not appear to be right. Even a bird has authority over his nest."
Nagasena said: "There are ten things that in every birth accompany the body, namely: 1. Varna (colour) 2. Tapa (heat) 3. Khuda (hunger) 4. Thrisna (thirst) 5. Mala (feces) 6. Mutra (urine) 7. Nidra (sleep) 8. Vadi (disease) 9. Khaya (decay) 10. Mritya (death). Over these ten an Arhat exercises no power."
Milinda said: "Will you kindly explain to me how it is that this occurs?"
Nagasena said: "Because of the earth all beings exist, the earth cannot be commanded by all these things. In like manner, because of the body the mind exists, the mind cannot command or control the body."
Nagasena said: "Because there has been no accomplishment of Vidarsana and other exercises by which the mind is brought into subjection. There is a hungry bull that is tied only by a small withe which it breaks in its anger and then runs away. In the same way, when the mind is not under discipline, it becomes irritated, breaks away from fear and the voice of sorrow; thus there is pain both of body and mind. But the mind of the Arhat is under proper discipline; it does not disturb the body; it is bound as to a pleasure of Nirvana, and the Arhat is therefore free from the pain of mind, whilst he is still subject to the pain of the body."
Milinda said: "But would it not be a thing to be esteemed as a wonder if when the body is quieted or agitated, the mind were to remain tranquil? Kindly explain to me how this can be."
Nagasena said: "The branches of a tree are shaken by the wind but the trunk remains unmoved. In like manner as the mind of the Arhat is bound to the firm pillar of Samadhi by the cord of the Four Paths, it remains unmoved even when the body is suffering pain."
-- Notebooks Category 10: Healing of the Self > Chapter 1 : The Laws of Nature > # 76
