[Some repetitions in the text are omitted; apart from very minor cases, elisions are marked by brackets and/or “…”.]

1. Thus I have heard: at one time the Blessed One was staying among the people of Magadha, in (the city of) Matulā. There the Blessed One summoned the monks … and said:

“Monks, live with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no-one else as a refuge. Live with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with nothing else as a refuge. How does one live [like that]? In regard to this, monks, a (good) monk lives in his body, contemplating (what) his body (is), energetically, aware, mindful, rid of hankering after the world and of melancholy (about it). He lives in (relation to his) feelings [likewise], as also in (relation to his) states of mind and Mental Objects. This, monks, is the way a monk lives with himself as an island, with himself as a refuge, with no-one else as a refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with nothing else as a refuge. In your field(s) of movement, monks, move (only) in your own customary terrain.