1.
The Discourse at Devadaha
134.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Devadaha, a market town of the Sakyans.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"I do not, monks, say to all monks 'something is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'; nor do I, monks, say to all monks 'nothing is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'.
Those monks, monks, who are Worthy Ones, who have eliminated the mental corruptions, who have lived the holy life, who have done what had to be done, who have laid down the burden, who have attained their own welfare, who have utterly eliminated the fetters of existence, who are completely liberated through final knowledge - to those monks, monks, I say 'nothing is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'.
What is the reason for this?
what had to be done by them has been done through diligence. They are incapable of being negligent.
But those monks, monks, who are trainees, who have not attained their goal, dwelling aspiring for the unsurpassed freedom from bondage - to those monks, monks, I say 'something is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'.
What is the reason for this?
There are, monks, forms cognisable by eye that are delightful and undelightful.
Having touched them again and again, they do not remain obsessing his mind.
Through the non-exhaustion of mind, energy is aroused and unsluggish, mindfulness is established and unconfused, the body is calm and not excited, the mind is concentrated and fully focused.
Seeing this fruit of diligence, monks, I say to those monks 'something is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'. Etc.
There are, monks, mental phenomena cognisable by mind that are delightful and undelightful.
Having touched them again and again, they do not remain obsessing his mind.
Through the non-exhaustion of mind, energy is aroused and unsluggish, mindfulness is established and unconfused, the body is calm and not excited, the mind is concentrated and fully focused.
Seeing this fruit of diligence, monks, I say to those monks 'something is to be done with diligence regarding the six sense bases of contact'."
The first.