44. There are these five debasements of gold, because of which gold is not pliable, workable or glistening, but is brittle and not capable of perfect workmanship.
What five? Iron, copper, tin, lead and silver. But when gold is free from these five debasements it is pliable, workable, glistening, not brittle and capable of perfect workmanship. Then whatever sort of ornament one wants, a signet ring, ear-ring, necklace or a gold chain, it can be used for that.
In the same way, there are these five debasements of the mind because of which the mind is not pliable, workable, or glistening, but is brittle and not rightly composed for the destruction of the defilements. What five? Sense desire, ill-will, sloth and laziness, restlessness and worry, and doubt.
But when the mind is free from these five debasements it is pliable, workable, glistening, not brittle but rightly composed for the destruction of the defilements. Then one can direct the mind to the realization by psychic knowledge of whatever can be realized by psychic knowledge and can see it directly, whatever its range might be.
Anguttara Nikaya III.15
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Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
Thank you for sharing this. I like the analogy. Mind is purified by the same fire as gold, and has the same qualities of gold once purified.
By: Lorien on 02/14/2015
at 4:07 am