1.
The Discourse on Morality
387.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda and the Venerable Bhadda were dwelling at Pāṭaliputta in the Cock's Park.
Then the Venerable Bhadda, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Ānanda;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Ānanda.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Bhadda said this to the Venerable Ānanda -
"These wholesome moral practices that have been spoken of by the Blessed One, friend Ānanda, for what purpose have these wholesome moral practices been spoken of by the Blessed One?"
"Good, good, friend Bhadda! Good indeed is your penetration, friend Bhadda, good is your discernment, excellent is your inquiry. For thus indeed you ask, friend Bhadda - 'These wholesome moral practices that have been spoken of by the Blessed One, friend Ānanda, for what purpose have these wholesome moral practices been spoken of by the Blessed One?'" "Yes, friend." "These wholesome moral practices that have been spoken of by the Blessed One, friend Bhadda, these wholesome moral practices have been spoken of by the Blessed One only for the development of the four establishments of mindfulness."
"Which four? Here, friend, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. He dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. These wholesome moral practices that have been spoken of by the Blessed One, friend Bhadda, these wholesome moral practices have been spoken of by the Blessed One only for the development of these four establishments of mindfulness." The first.