Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso ādittaṁ tiṇukkaṁ sukkhe tiṇadāye nikkhipeyya; tamenaṁ hatthehi ca pādehi ca khippameva nibbāpeyya. Evañhi, bhikkhave, ye tiṇakaṭṭhanissitā pāṇā te na anayabyasanaṁ āpajjeyyuṁ.
Suppose a person was to drop a burning torch in a thicket of dry grass. If they were to quickly extinguish it with their hands and feet, the creatures living in the grass and wood wouldn’t come to ruin.
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yo hi koci samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā uppannaṁ visamagataṁ saññaṁ khippameva pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti, so diṭṭhe ceva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ;
In the same way, a corrupt perception might arise in an ascetic or brahmin. If they quickly give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it, they’ll be happy in the present life, free of distress, anguish, and fever.