4.
The Discourse on the Time
54.
"Monks, there are these five wrong times for striving.
Which five?
Here, monks, a monk is old, overcome by ageing.
This, monks, is the first wrong time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk is ill, overcome by illness. This, monks, is the second wrong time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, there is famine, poor crops, almsfood difficult to obtain, it is not easy to sustain oneself by gleaning and exertion. This, monks, is the third wrong time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, there is danger, a forest uprising, and the country-folk, having mounted their vehicles, wander about. This, monks, is the fourth wrong time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, the monastic community is split. But when the monastic community is split, monks, there is mutual reviling, there is mutual abuse, there is mutual exclusion, there is mutual abandonment. Therein those without faith do not gain faith, and for some of those with faith there is alteration. This, monks, is the fifth wrong time for striving. These, monks, are the five wrong times for striving.
"Monks, there are these five right times for striving. Which five? Here, monks, a monk is young, a youth with black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life. This, monks, is the first right time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk is free from illness, free from disease, endowed with digestion that is even, neither too cold nor too hot, middling, capable of striving. This, monks, is the second right time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, there is plenty, good crops, almsfood easily obtained, it is easy to sustain oneself by gleaning and exertion. This, monks, is the third right time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, human beings dwell in unity, being joyful, without contention, blended like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection. This, monks, is the fourth right time for striving.
"Furthermore, monks, the monastic community dwells in unity, being joyful, without contention, with common recitation, comfortably. But when the monastic community is united, monks, there is no mutual reviling, there is no mutual abuse, there is no mutual exclusion, there is no mutual abandonment. Therein those without faith gain faith, and for those with faith there is increase. This, monks, is the fifth right time for striving. These, monks, are the five right times for striving." The fourth.