3.
The Discourse on the Simile of the City
67.
"When, monks, a king's border city is well equipped with seven city requisites, and is an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble, of four kinds of food.
This is called, monks, a king's border city that is not to be done by external adversaries and enemies.
"With which seven city requisites is it well equipped? Here, monks, in a king's border city there is a pillar with deep foundations, well planted, immovable, unshakeable. By this first city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city there is a moat that is both deep and wide. By this second city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city there is a circumferential path that is both high and wide. By this third city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city many weapons are accumulated, both arrows and swords. By this fourth city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city a large army dwells, as follows - elephant riders, horse riders, charioteers, archers, standard-bearers, camp marshals, food distributors, fierce warrior princes, charging warriors, great warriors, heroes, leather-clad warriors, sons of slave women. By this fifth city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city there is a doorkeeper who is wise, experienced, and intelligent, one who keeps out strangers and admits those who are known. By this sixth city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city there is a wall that is both high and wide and accomplished with covering and plastering. By this seventh city requisite the king's border city is well equipped for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. It is well equipped with these seven city requisites.
"Of which four kinds of food is it an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble? Here, monks, in a king's border city much grass, wood, and water is accumulated for the delight of those within, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city much rice and barley is accumulated for the delight of those within, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city much sesame, green peas, beans, and other grains is accumulated for the delight of those within, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, and for the repulsion of those without.
"Furthermore, monks, in a king's border city much medicine is accumulated, as follows - ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt, for the delight of those within, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, and for the repulsion of those without. Of these four kinds of food, monks, it is an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble.
"When, monks, a king's border city is well equipped with these seven city requisites, and is an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble, of these four kinds of food. This is called, monks, a king's border city that is not to be done by external adversaries and enemies. So too, monks, when a noble disciple is endowed with seven good qualities, and is an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble, of the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life. This is called, monks, a noble disciple who is not to be done by Māra, not to be done by the Evil One. With which seven good qualities is he endowed?
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city there is a pillar with deep foundations, well planted, immovable, unshakeable, for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple has faith, he believes in the enlightenment of the Truth-finder - 'Thus indeed is he, etc. the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' The noble disciple with faith as his pillar, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this first good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city there is a moat both deep and wide, for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple has shame, he is ashamed of bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct, he is ashamed of the attainment of evil unwholesome mental states. The noble disciple with shame as his moat, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this second good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city there is a surrounding road both high and wide, for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple has moral fear, he fears bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct, he fears the attainment of evil unwholesome mental states. The noble disciple with moral fear as his surrounding road, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this third good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city many weapons are stored, both arrows and spears, for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple is very learned, etc. thoroughly penetrated by view. The noble disciple with learning as his weapon, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this fourth good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city a large army is stationed, as follows - elephant riders, horse riders, charioteers, archers, standard-bearers, camp marshals, food distributors, fierce warrior princes, charging warriors, great warriors, heroes, leather-clad warriors, sons of slave women, for the protection of those within and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple dwells putting forth strenuous energy for the abandoning of unwholesome mental states and for the acquisition of wholesome mental states, steadfast, of firm effort, not shirking the responsibility regarding wholesome mental states. The noble disciple with energy as his army, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this fifth good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city there is a doorkeeper who is wise, experienced, and intelligent, one who keeps out strangers and admits those who are known, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple is mindful, endowed with the highest mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting what was done long ago and what was said long ago. The noble disciple who has mindfulness as doorkeeper, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this sixth good quality.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city there is a wall that is high and wide, complete with plastering and coating, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple is wise, endowed with wisdom that discerns rise and fall, noble, penetrative, leading rightly to the complete elimination of suffering. The noble disciple who is complete with the plastering and coating of wisdom, monks, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he maintains himself pure. He is endowed with this seventh good quality. He is endowed with these seven good qualities.
"Of which four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life, is he one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble? Just as, monks, in a king's border city much grass, wood, and water is accumulated for the delight of those within, for their freedom from agitation, for their comfortable abiding, and for warding off those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, etc. enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption, for his own delight, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, for entry into Nibbāna.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city much rice and barley is accumulated for the delight of those within, for their freedom from agitation, for their comfortable abiding, and for warding off those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple, with the subsiding of applied and sustained thought, etc. enters and dwells in the second meditative absorption, for his own delight, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, for entry into Nibbāna.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city much sesame, green peas, beans, and other legumes is accumulated for the delight of those within, for their freedom from agitation, for their comfortable abiding, and for warding off those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple, with the fading away of rapture, etc. enters and dwells in the third meditative absorption, for his own delight, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, for entry into Nibbāna.
"Just as, monks, in a king's border city much medicine is accumulated, as follows - ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt, for the delight of those within, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, and for the repulsion of those without. So too, monks, a noble disciple, with the abandoning of pleasure and with the abandoning of pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and displeasure, enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption, which has neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity, for his own delight, for freedom from agitation, for comfortable abiding, for entry into Nibbāna. He is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, these four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life.
"When, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with these seven good qualities, and is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, these four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life. This is called, monks, a noble disciple who is not to be done by Māra, not to be done by the Evil One." The third.