6.
The Discourse on Pātimokkha Restraint
412.
Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, etc.
Seated to one side, that monk 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would expound to me the Teaching in brief, so that having heard the Teaching from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."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, monk, you should purify the very beginning in wholesome mental states. And what is the beginning of wholesome mental states? Here, monk, dwell restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in good conduct and lawful resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, having accepted the training rules, train in them. When, monk, you will dwell restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in good conduct and lawful resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, having accepted the training rules, train in them; then, monk, based upon morality, established upon morality, you should develop the four establishments of mindfulness."
"Which four? Here, monk, 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, monk, based upon morality, established upon morality, you will thus develop these four establishments of mindfulness, then for you, monk, whatever night or day comes, only growth is to be expected in wholesome mental states, not decline."
Then that monk, 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 Then dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, that monk soon realised for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life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 that monk became one of the Worthy Ones. The sixth.