6.
The Discourse on Kuṇḍaliya
187.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāketa in the Añjana Grove, in the Deer Park.
Then the wandering ascetic Kuṇḍaliya approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the wandering ascetic Kuṇḍaliya said this to the Blessed One -
"I, Master Gotama, am one who resorts to parks, one who frequents assemblies.
This, Master Gotama, is my practice after the meal, having eaten the morning meal -
I walk about and wander from park to park, from pleasure grove to pleasure grove.
There I see some ascetics and brahmins speaking talk for the benefit of release from their own doctrines and for the benefit of reproaching others -
'But with what benefit does Master Gotama dwell?'"
"The Truth-finder, Kuṇḍaliya, dwells with the benefit of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation."
"But what mental states, Master Gotama, when developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation?" "The seven factors of enlightenment, Kuṇḍaliya, when developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation." "But what mental states, Master Gotama, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment?" "The four establishments of mindfulness, Kuṇḍaliya, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment." "But what mental states, Master Gotama, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the four establishments of mindfulness?" "The three kinds of good conduct, Kuṇḍaliya, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the four establishments of mindfulness." "But what mental states, Master Gotama, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the three kinds of good conduct?" "Restraint of the faculties, Kuṇḍaliya, when developed and cultivated, fulfils the three kinds of good conduct."
"And how, Kuṇḍaliya, is restraint of the faculties developed, how is it cultivated so that it fulfils the three kinds of good conduct? Here, Kuṇḍaliya, a monk, having seen a form with the eye, does not covet what is agreeable, does not become elated, does not generate lust. His body is steady and his mind is steady, internally well-established and well-liberated. But having seen a form with the eye that is disagreeable, he does not become ashamed, with unestablished mind, with undepressed mind, with unmalevolent heart. His body is steady and his mind is steady, internally well-established and well-liberated.
"Furthermore, Kuṇḍaliya, a monk, having heard a sound with the ear... etc... Having smelled an odour with the nose. Having tasted a flavour with the tongue. Having touched a tangible object with the body... etc... having cognised a mental object with the mind, does not covet what is agreeable, does not become elated, does not generate lust. His body is steady and his mind is steady, internally well-established and well-liberated. But having cognised a mental object with the mind that is disagreeable, he does not become ashamed, with unestablished mind, with undepressed mind, with unmalevolent heart. His body is steady and his mind is steady, internally well-established and well-liberated.
"Since, Kuṇḍaliya, for a monk, having seen a form with the eye, regarding agreeable and disagreeable forms, the body is stable, the mind is stable, internally well-established, well-liberated. Having heard a sound with the ear. Etc. Having smelled an odour with the nose... etc... Having tasted a flavour with the tongue... etc. Having touched a tangible object with the body... etc... Having cognised a mental phenomenon with the mind, regarding agreeable and disagreeable mental phenomena, the body is stable, the mind is stable, internally well-established, well-liberated. Thus developed, Kuṇḍaliya, restraint of the faculties, thus cultivated, fulfils the three kinds of good conduct.
"And how, Kuṇḍaliya, are the three kinds of good conduct developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil the four establishments of mindfulness? Here, Kuṇḍaliya, a monk, having abandoned bodily misconduct, develops bodily good conduct; having abandoned verbal misconduct, develops good verbal conduct; having abandoned mental misconduct, develops good mental conduct. Thus developed, Kuṇḍaliya, the three kinds of good conduct, thus cultivated, fulfil the four establishments of mindfulness.
"And how, Kuṇḍaliya, are the four establishments of mindfulness developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, Kuṇḍaliya, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. He dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. Thus developed, Kuṇḍaliya, the four establishments of mindfulness, thus cultivated, fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, Kuṇḍaliya, are the seven factors of enlightenment developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil true knowledge and liberation? Here, Kuṇḍaliya, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release... etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus developed, Kuṇḍaliya, the seven factors of enlightenment, thus cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation."
When this was said, the wandering ascetic Kuṇḍaliya said this to the Blessed One - "Excellent, Master Gotama, excellent, Master Gotama! Just as, Master Gotama, one might set upright what had been overturned, or reveal what had been concealed, or point out the path to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with good eyesight might see forms; so too, the Teaching has been made clear by Master Gotama in many ways. I go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The sixth.