4.
The Second Discourse on Ānanda
990.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To the Venerable Ānanda seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"Is there indeed, Ānanda, 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 teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc.
"There is, Ānanda, 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.
"And what, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, is the concentration of mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated so that it fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness? Here, Ānanda, a monk, having gone to the forest, etc. Thus developed, Ānanda, the seven factors of enlightenment, thus cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation." The fourth.