4.
The Discourse on Mental Corruptions
58.
"Monks, a monk possessed of six qualities is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
With which six? Here, monks, for a monk those mental corruptions to be abandoned by restraint are abandoned by restraint, those mental corruptions to be abandoned by using are abandoned by using, those mental corruptions to be abandoned by endurance are abandoned by endurance, those mental corruptions to be abandoned by avoidance are abandoned by avoidance, those mental corruptions to be abandoned by removal are abandoned by removal, those mental corruptions to be abandoned by meditative development are abandoned by meditative development.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by restraint that are abandoned by restraint? Here, monks, a monk dwells restrained with the restraint of the eye-faculty, having reflected wisely. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one dwelling unrestrained in the restraint of the eye-faculty, monks, for one dwelling restrained in the restraint of the eye-faculty, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. Having reflected wisely, the ear-faculty, etc. the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty, He dwells restrained with the restraint of the mind-faculty. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one dwelling unrestrained in the restraint of the mind-faculty, monks, for one dwelling restrained in the restraint of the mind-faculty, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by restraint that are abandoned by restraint.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by using that are abandoned by using? Here, monks, a monk, having reflected wisely, uses the robe - 'only for warding off cold, for warding off heat, for warding off the contact of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures, only for the purpose of covering the parts that arouse shame.' Having reflected wisely, he uses almsfood - 'not for amusement, not for intoxication, not for adornment, not for beautification, only for the presence and sustenance of this body, for the cessation of harm, for the support of the holy life, thus: "I shall ward off the old feeling and shall not give rise to a new feeling, and there will be for me progress, blamelessness, and comfortable dwelling."' Having reflected wisely, he uses lodging - 'only for warding off cold, for warding off heat, for warding off the contact of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures, only for the purpose of dispelling the dangers of the seasons and for the delight of seclusion.' Having reflected wisely, he uses the requisite of medicines for the sick - 'only for warding off arisen afflicting feelings, with freedom from affliction as the highest aim.' For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one not using, monks, for one using, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by using that are abandoned by using.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by endurance that are abandoned by endurance? Here, monks, a monk, having reflected wisely, is patient with cold and heat, with hunger and thirst, with the contact of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures, with ill-spoken and ill-expressed ways of speech; he is one who by nature endures arisen bodily feelings that are painful, sharp, rough, severe, disagreeable, unpleasant, and life-threatening. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one not enduring, monks, for one enduring, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by endurance that are abandoned by endurance.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by avoidance that are abandoned by avoidance? Here, monks, a monk, having reflected wisely, avoids a fierce elephant, avoids a fierce horse, avoids a fierce bull, avoids a fierce dog, a snake, a stump, a thorny place, a pit, a precipice, a cesspool, a sewer; whatever improper seat one sitting on, whatever improper resort one frequenting, whatever evil friends one associating with, wise fellow monks would suspect one in evil matters - he, having reflected wisely, avoids that improper seat, that improper resort, and those evil friends. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one not avoiding, monks, for one avoiding, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by avoidance that are abandoned by avoidance.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by removal that are abandoned by removal? Here, monks, a monk, having reflected wisely, does not accept an arisen sensual thought, he abandons it, dispels it, puts an end to it, brings it to obliteration; having reflected wisely, an arisen thought of anger... etc. An arisen thought of violence... Whatever evil unwholesome mental states have arisen, he does not accept them, he abandons them, dispels them, puts an end to them, brings them to obliteration. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one not removing them, monks, for one removing them, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by removal that are abandoned by removal.
"And what, monks, are the mental corruptions to be abandoned by meditative development that are abandoned by meditative development? Here, monks, a monk, having reflected wisely, develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release; having reflected wisely, he develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena... etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of energy... He develops the enlightenment factor of rapture... He develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity... He develops the enlightenment factor of concentration... He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. For whatever mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers would arise for one not developing, monks, for one developing, those mental corruptions, vexations, and fevers do not exist. These are called, monks, mental corruptions to be abandoned by meditative development that are abandoned by meditative development.
Monks, a monk possessed of these six qualities is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world." The fourth.