5.
The First Discourse on the Monk
991.
Then several monks approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Is there indeed, venerable sir, one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things?"
"There is indeed, monks, one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things."
"But what, venerable sir, is the one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things?" "The concentration of mindfulness of breathing, monks, is the one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness, the four establishments of mindfulness which when developed and cultivated fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment, the seven factors of enlightenment which when developed and cultivated fulfil true knowledge and liberation."
"And how, monks, is the concentration of mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated so that it fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness? Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or etc. Thus developed, monks, the seven factors of enlightenment, thus cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation." The fifth.