6.
The Discourse on the Preceptor
56.
Then a certain monk approached his own preceptor;
having approached, he said this to his own preceptor -
"Now, venerable sir, my body has become weak and stiff, the directions are not clear to me, the teachings do not occur to me, sloth and torpor remains obsessing my mind, I live the holy life without delight, and I have sceptical doubt regarding the teachings."
Then that monk, having taken that co-resident pupil monk, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that monk said this to the Blessed One - "This monk, venerable sir, says thus - 'Now, venerable sir, my body has become weak and stiff, the directions are not clear to me, the teachings do not occur to me, sloth and torpor remains obsessing my mind, I live the holy life without delight, and I have sceptical doubt regarding the teachings.'"
"So it is, monk, for one with unguarded doors in the sense faculties, for one not knowing moderation in food, for one not devoted to wakefulness, for one not gifted with introspection regarding wholesome mental states, for one dwelling not devoted to the pursuit of meditation of the qualities conducive to enlightenment in the first and last watches of the night, that the body becomes weak and stiff, the directions are not clear to him, the teachings do not occur to him, sloth and torpor remains obsessing his mind, he lives the holy life without delight, and he has sceptical doubt regarding the teachings. Therefore, monk, you should train thus - 'I will be with guarded doors in the sense faculties, knowing moderation in food, devoted to wakefulness, gifted with introspection regarding wholesome mental states, I will dwell devoted to the pursuit of meditation of the qualities conducive to enlightenment in the first and last watches of the night.' Thus indeed, monk, should you train."
Then that monk, exhorted by the Blessed One with this exhortation, having risen from his seat, having paid respect to the Blessed One, having circumambulated him keeping him on his right, 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 Then dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, that monk soon realised for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life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.
Then that monk, having attained arahantship, approached his own preceptor; having approached, he said this to his own preceptor - "Now, venerable sir, my body is not weak and stiff, the directions are clear to me, the teachings occur to me, sloth and torpor does not remain obsessing my mind, I live the holy life with delight, and I have no sceptical doubt regarding the teachings." Then that monk, having taken that co-resident pupil monk, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that monk said this to the Blessed One - "This monk, venerable sir, says thus - 'Now, venerable sir, my body is not weak and stiff, the directions are clear to me, the teachings occur to me, sloth and torpor does not remain obsessing my mind, I live the holy life with delight, and I have no sceptical doubt regarding the teachings.'"
"So it is, monk, for one with guarded doors in the sense faculties, for one knowing moderation in food, for one devoted to wakefulness, for one gifted with introspection regarding wholesome mental states, for one dwelling devoted to the pursuit of meditation of the qualities conducive to enlightenment in the first and last watches of the night, that the body is not weak and stiff, the directions are clear to him, the teachings occur to him, sloth and torpor does not remain obsessing his mind, he lives the holy life with delight, and he has no sceptical doubt regarding the teachings. Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'We will be with guarded doors in the sense faculties, knowing moderation in food, devoted to wakefulness, gifted with introspection regarding wholesome mental states, we will dwell devoted to the pursuit of meditation of the qualities conducive to enlightenment in the first and last watches of the night.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The sixth.