5.
The Second Discourse on the Sick
196.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time the venerable Mahāmoggallāna was dwelling on the Mount Vulture Peak, sick, afflicted, severely ill.
Then the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the venerable Mahāmoggallāna;
having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat.
Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the venerable Mahāmoggallāna -
"Is it bearable for you, Moggallāna, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?" "It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding."
"These seven factors of enlightenment, Moggallāna, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, Moggallāna, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, Moggallāna, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. These seven factors of enlightenment, Moggallāna, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna." "Truly, Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment; truly, Fortunate One, they are factors of enlightenment."
This is what the Blessed One said. Pleased, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna delighted in the Blessed One’s words. And the venerable Mahāmoggallāna recovered from that illness. And that illness of the venerable Mahāmoggallāna was thus abandoned. The fifth.