3.
The Discourse on Fire
234.
Then several monks, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood.
"Monks, heterodox wandering ascetics who speak thus should be told thus - 'At the time, friend, when the mind is sluggish, for which factors of enlightenment is it not the right time for development, and for which factors of enlightenment is it the right time for development? And at the time, friend, when the mind is agitated, for which factors of enlightenment is it not the right time for development, and for which factors of enlightenment is it the right time for development?' Thus asked, monks, heterodox wandering ascetics will not be able to explain, and furthermore they will fall into vexation. What is the reason for this? Because, monks, it is not within their domain.
"I do not see anyone, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, who could satisfy the mind with an explanation of these questions, except for the Truth-finder or a disciple of the Truth-finder, or else having heard it from here.
"At the time, monks, when the mind is sluggish, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of concentration, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of equanimity. What is the reason for this? Monks, a sluggish mind is difficult to arouse by these mental states.
"Just as, monks, a man might wish to kindle a small fire. If he were to throw in wet grass, throw in wet cow-dung, throw in wet wood, blow on it with water-laden air, and scatter dust over it; would that man be able to kindle a small fire?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"So too, monks, at the time when the mind is sluggish, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of concentration, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of equanimity. What is the reason for this? Monks, a sluggish mind is difficult to arouse by these mental states.
"But at the time, monks, when the mind is sluggish, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of energy, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of rapture. What is the reason for this? Monks, a sluggish mind is easy to arouse by these mental states.
"Just as, monks, a man might wish to kindle a small fire. If he were to throw in dry grass, throw in dry cow-dung, throw in dry wood, blow on it with his mouth, and not scatter dust over it; would that man be able to kindle a small fire?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"So too, monks, at the time when the mind is sluggish, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of energy, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of rapture. What is the reason for this? Monks, a sluggish mind is easy to arouse by these mental states.
"At the time, monks, when the mind is agitated, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of energy, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of rapture. What is the reason for this? Monks, an agitated mind is difficult to calm by these mental states.
"Just as, monks, a man might wish to extinguish a great mass of fire. He might throw in dry grass there, might throw in dry cow-dung, might throw in dry wood, might give it breath from his mouth, and might not scatter dust over it; is that man able to extinguish that great mass of fire?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"So too, monks, at the time when the mind is agitated, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of energy, it is not the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of rapture. What is the reason for this? Monks, an agitated mind is difficult to calm by these mental states.
"But at the time, monks, when the mind is agitated, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of concentration, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of equanimity. What is the reason for this? An agitated mind, monks, is easy to calm with these mental states.
"Just as, monks, a man might wish to extinguish a great mass of fire. If he were to throw in wet grass, throw in wet cow-dung, throw in wet wood, blow on it with water-laden air, and scatter dust over it; is that man able to extinguish that great mass of fire?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"So too, monks, at the time when the mind is agitated, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of concentration, it is the right time for the development of the enlightenment factor of equanimity. What is the reason for this? An agitated mind, monks, is easy to calm with these mental states. But mindfulness, monks, I say is useful everywhere." The third.