5.
The Discourse on Bāhiya
381.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Bāhiya approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Bāhiya said this to the Blessed One -
"It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would expound to me the Teaching in brief, so that having heard the Teaching from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."
"Therefore, Bāhiya, you should purify the very beginning in wholesome mental states.
And what is the beginning of wholesome mental states?
Morality that is well purified, and view that is straight.
When, Bāhiya, your morality is well purified and your view is straight, then, Bāhiya, based upon morality, established upon morality, you should develop the four establishments of mindfulness."
"Which four? Here, Bāhiya, dwell observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. dwell observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. When, Bāhiya, based upon morality, established upon morality, you will thus develop these four establishments of mindfulness, then for you, Bāhiya, whatever night or day comes, only growth is to be expected in wholesome mental states, not decline."
Then the Venerable Bāhiya, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed. Then dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, the Venerable Bāhiya soon realised for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness; and, having entered upon it, he dwelt in it. He directly knew: "Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being." And the Venerable Bāhiya became one of the Worthy Ones. The fifth.