8-10.
The Three Discourses Beginning with the Moon
146.
"Just as, monks, whatever radiance there is of the stars, all of it is not worth a sixteenth fraction of the radiance of the moon, the radiance of the moon is declared the foremost among them;
so too, monks, etc.
The eighth.
147.
"Just as, monks, in the autumn season, when the sky is clear and cloudless, the sun, ascending into the sky and dispelling all the darkness in space, glows, radiates, and shines;
so too, monks, etc.
The ninth.
148.
"Just as, monks, whatever woven cloths there are, Kāsian cloth is declared the foremost among them;
so too, monks, whatever wholesome mental states there are, all of them are rooted in diligence, converge in diligence;
diligence is declared the foremost among those mental states.
For a diligent monk, monks, this is to be expected -
he will develop the noble eightfold path, he will cultivate the noble eightfold path.
And how, monks, does a diligent monk develop the noble eightfold path, cultivate the noble eightfold path?
Here, monks, a monk develops right view, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, etc.
he develops right concentration, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, etc.
Thus, monks, a diligent monk develops the noble eightfold path, cultivates the noble eightfold path."
The tenth.