SN47.6 — Sakuṇagghisutta
Once a hawk suddenly seized a bird in its talons.
Then while being carried away by the hawk, the bird lamented: We are indeed unlucky, we who have little merit, for we roamed in foreign territories. If today we had roamed in our own territory, in our ancestral domain, this hawk would not have been enough for us, in terms of fighting. But what is your territory, your ancestral domain?
That is: plowing and harrowing the fields. Then the hawk, not feeling confident in its own strength, not finding a way to argue, released the bird: Go then, bird, even there you will not escape me.
Then the bird went to the plowing and harrowing fields, climbed a large clod, and stood challenging the hawk: Come now to me, hawk, come now to me, hawk.
Then she the hawk, not feeling confident in its own strength, not finding a way to argue, suddenly seized both sides of the bird. When the bird realized the hawk has come too close to me, it immediately slipped into the gap of that very clod.
Then the hawk crashed right there. Thus it happens to one who roams in foreign territories.
Therefore do not roam in foreign territories. For those who roam in foreign territories Mara finds an opportunity, Mara finds a foothold.
And what is the foreign territory for a disciple?
That is: the five strands of sensual pleasure. What five?
Forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, associated with sensual desire, and enticing, sounds cognizable by the ear... smells cognizable by the nose... tastes cognizable by the tongue... tactile objects cognizable by the body that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, associated with sensual desire, and enticing: this is the foreign territory for a disciple.
Roam in your own territory, in your ancestral domain, disciples. For those who roam in their own territory, in their ancestral domain Mara does not find an opportunity, Mara does not find a foothold.
And what is the disciple's own territory, his ancestral domain?
That is: the four foundations of mindfulness. What four?
Here a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world; in feelings... in mind... in phenomena he dwells contemplating phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world: this is the disciple's own territory, his ancestral domain.