4.
The Discourse on the Cloth
185.
On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks:
"Friends, monks!"
"Friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Sāriputta.
The Venerable Sāriputta said this -
"There are these seven factors of enlightenment, friends. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, the enlightenment factor of energy, the enlightenment factor of rapture, the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, the enlightenment factor of concentration, the enlightenment factor of equanimity - these, friends, are the seven factors of enlightenment. Of these seven factors of enlightenment, friends, with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the earlier period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the earlier period of the day; with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the noon period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the noon period of the day; with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the afternoon period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the afternoon period of the day. If, friends, the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is thus for me, it is 'immeasurable' for me, it is 'thoroughly undertaken' for me, and when it remains I understand 'it remains.' If it passes away for me, I understand 'it passes away for me with this as condition.' Etc. If, friends, the enlightenment factor of equanimity is thus for me, it is 'immeasurable' for me, it is 'thoroughly undertaken' for me, and when it remains I understand 'it remains.' If it passes away for me, I understand 'it passes away for me with this as condition.'
"Just as, friends, there might be a clothes-chest full of cloths of various colours belonging to a king or a king's chief minister. Whatever suit of garments he might wish to wear in the earlier period of the day, that very suit of garments he would wear in the earlier period of the day; whatever suit of garments he might wish to wear in the noon period of the day, that very suit of garments he would wear in the noon period of the day; whatever suit of garments he might wish to wear in the afternoon period of the day, that very suit of garments he would wear in the afternoon period of the day. So too, friends, of these seven factors of enlightenment, with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the earlier period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the earlier period of the day; with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the noon period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the noon period of the day; with whatever factor of enlightenment I wish to dwell in the afternoon period of the day, with that factor of enlightenment I dwell in the afternoon period of the day. If, friends, the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is thus for me, it is 'immeasurable' for me, it is 'thoroughly undertaken' for me, and when it remains I understand 'it remains.' If it passes away for me, I understand 'it passes away for me with this as condition.' Etc. If, friends, the enlightenment factor of equanimity is thus for me, it is 'immeasurable' for me, it is 'thoroughly undertaken' for me, and when it remains I understand 'it remains.' If it passes away for me, I understand 'it passes away for me with this as condition.'" The fourth.