4.
The Discourse on Serenity
54.
"If, monks, a monk is not skilled in the method of another's mind, then 'I will be skilled in the method of my own mind' -
thus indeed, monks, should you train.
"And how, monks, is a monk skilled in the method of his own mind? Just as, monks, a woman or a man, young, youthful, fond of adornment, reviewing one's own facial reflection in a pure, bright mirror or in a clear bowl of water, if one sees there dust or a blemish, one strives for the removal of that very dust or blemish. If one does not see there dust or a blemish, one is delighted by that very fact, with fulfilled thought - 'It is a gain for me indeed, I am indeed pure.' So too, monks, for a monk reviewing is of great service regarding wholesome mental states - 'Am I indeed an obtainer of internal serenity of mind, or am I indeed not an obtainer of internal serenity of mind, am I indeed an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom, or am I indeed not an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom?'
"If, monks, a monk reviewing thus knows - 'I am an obtainer of internal serenity of mind, not an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom,' by that monk, monks, having established himself in internal serenity of mind, exertion for insight into phenomena through higher wisdom is to be done. He, at a later time, becomes both an obtainer of internal serenity of mind and an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom.
"But if, monks, a monk reviewing thus knows - 'I am an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom, not an obtainer of internal serenity of mind,' by that monk, monks, having established himself in insight into phenomena through higher wisdom, exertion for internal serenity of mind is to be done. He, at a later time, becomes both an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom and an obtainer of internal serenity of mind.
"But if, monks, a monk reviewing thus knows - 'I am not an obtainer of internal serenity of mind, not an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom,' by that monk, monks, for the attainment of those very wholesome mental states, exceeding desire and effort and endeavour and enthusiasm and unremitting and mindfulness and full awareness is to be done. Just as, monks, one whose garment is on fire or whose head is on fire. For the quenching of that very garment or head, one would make exceeding desire and effort and endeavour and enthusiasm and unremitting and mindfulness and full awareness. So too, monks, by that monk, for the attainment of those very wholesome mental states, exceeding desire and effort and endeavour and enthusiasm and unremitting and mindfulness and full awareness is to be done. He, at a later time, becomes both an obtainer of internal serenity of mind and an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom.
"But if, monks, a monk reviewing thus knows - 'I am an obtainer of internal serenity of mind, an obtainer of insight into phenomena through higher wisdom,' by that monk, monks, having established himself in those very wholesome mental states, exertion for the further elimination of mental corruptions is to be done.
"Robes, monks, I say are twofold - to be used and not to be used. Almsfood, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be used and not to be used. Lodging, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be used and not to be used. Village and town, monks, I say are twofold - to be used and not to be used. District of the country, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be used and not to be used. Person, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be used and not to be used.
"Robe, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever robe one would know thus - 'When I use this robe, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline' - such robe should not be used. Therein, whatever robe one would know thus - 'When I use this robe, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such robe should be used. "Robe, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that.
"Almsfood, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever almsfood one would know thus - 'When I use this almsfood, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline' - such almsfood should not be used. Therein, whatever almsfood one would know thus - 'When I use this almsfood, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such almsfood should be used. "Almsfood, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that.
"Lodging, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever lodging one would know thus - "When I use this lodging, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such lodging should not be used. Therein, whatever lodging one would know thus - 'When I use this lodging, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such lodging should be used. "Lodging, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that.
"Village and market town, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever village and market town one would know thus: "When I frequent this village and market town, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such a village and market town should not be frequented. Therein, whatever village and market town one would know thus: "When I frequent this village and market town, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase" - such village and market town should be frequented. "Village and market town, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that.
"A region of the country, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever region of the country one would know thus: "When I frequent this region of the country, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such a region of the country should not be frequented. Therein, whatever region of the country one would know thus: "When I frequent this region of the country, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase" - such a region of the country should be frequented. "A region of the country, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that.
"A person, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated' - thus indeed this was said. With reference to what was this said? Therein, whatever person one would know thus - "When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such a person should not be associated with. Therein, whatever person one would know thus - "When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase" - such a person should be associated with. "A person, monks, is of two kinds, I say: to be associated with and not to be associated with" - thus what was said, it was said with reference to that. The fourth.