1.
The Discourse on Urgency
93.
"There are, monks, these three urgent tasks to be done by a farmer householder.
What three?
Here, monks, a farmer householder very quickly ploughs the field well and makes it well levelled.
Having very quickly ploughed the field well and made it well levelled, he very quickly plants the seeds.
Having very quickly planted the seeds, he very quickly brings in water and takes it away.
These, monks, are the three urgent tasks to be done by a farmer householder.
That farmer householder, monks, does not have that supernormal power or might -
'Let my grain sprout today, let it form ears tomorrow, let it ripen the day after tomorrow.'
But, monks, there comes a time when that farmer householder's grain, maturing through the seasons, sprouts, forms ears, and ripens.
"So too, monks, there are these three urgent tasks to be done by a monk. What three? The undertaking of the training in higher morality, the undertaking of the training in higher consciousness, the undertaking of the training in higher wisdom - these, monks, are the three urgent tasks to be done by a monk. That monk, monks, does not have that supernormal power or might - 'Let my mind become liberated from the mental corruptions by non-clinging today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.' But, monks, there comes a time when that monk, training in higher morality, training in higher consciousness, training in higher wisdom, his mind becomes liberated from the mental corruptions by non-clinging.
"Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'Our desire will be keen in the undertaking of the training in higher morality, our desire will be keen in the undertaking of the training in higher consciousness, our desire will be keen in the undertaking of the training in higher wisdom.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The first.