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( Seven    Factors  of  Enlightenment )
    'And further, Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives observing the Seven factors of Enlightenment as mental
objects.
    'How Bhikkhus does a bhikkhu live observing the Seven Fators of Enlightenment as mental objects ?.
         (1)    'Here Bhikkhus, when the enlightenment-factor of Mindfulness is present, the bhikkhu 
knows:     "The Enlightenment-factor of Mindfulness is in me", or when the Enlightenment-factor
of Mindfulness is absent, he knows:      "The Enlightenment-factor of Mindfulness is not inme", and he knows how the non-arisen Enlightenment-factorss arises; and how perfection in the 
development of the arisen Enlightenment-factor of Mindfulness comes to be.
     (2)    'When the Enlightenment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects id present, the bhik
khu knows:    "The enlightenment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects is in me", when the
enlightenment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects is absent, he knows:    "The Enlighten-
ment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects is not in me;; and he knows how the non-arisen
enlightenment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects arises and how perfection in the 
development of the arisen Enlightenment-factor of the Investigation of mental objects comes to be.
      (3)    "When the Enlightenment-factor of Energy is present, he knows:    "The Enlightenment-
factor of Energy is in me", when the Enlightenment-factor of Energy is absent, he knows:    "The
Enlightenment-factor of Energy is not in me"; and he knows how the non-arisen Enlightenment-
factor of Energy arises, and how perfection in the development of the arisen Enlightenment-factor
of Energy comes to be.
     (4)    "When the Enlightenment-factor of Joy is present, he knows:   "The Enlightenment-factor
of Joy is in me"; when the Enlightenment-factor of Joy is absent, he knows:    "The Enlightenment-
factor of Joy is not in me"; and he knows how the non-arisen Enlightenment-factor  of Joy arises 
and how perfection in the development of the arisen Enlightenment-factor of Joy comes to be.
     (5)   "When the Enlightenment-factor of Relaxation (of body and mind) is present, he knows:
"The Enlightenment-factor of Relaxation is in me"; when he Enlightenment-factor of Relaxation is
absent, he knows:    "The Enlightenment-factor of Relaxation is not in me"; and he knows how the
non-arisen Enlightenment-factor of Relaxation arises, and how perfection in the development of the arisen Enlightenment-factor of the Relaxation comes to be.
     (6)   "When the Enlightenment-factor of Concentration is present, he knows:    "The Enlighten-
ment-factor of Concentration is in me"; when the Enlightenment-factor of Concentration is absent
he knows:    "The Enlightenment-factor of Concentration is not in me; and he knows how the non-
arisen Enlightenment-factor of Concentration arises, and how perfection in the development of the
arisen Enlightenment-factor of Concentration comes to be.
     (7)   "When the Enlightenment-factor Equanimity is present, he knows:    "The Enlightenment-
factor of equanimity is in me"; when the Enlightenment-factor of Equanimity is absent, he knows:
"The enlightenment-factor of Equanimity is not in me"; and he knows how the non-arisen Enlightenment-factor of Equanimity arises, and how perfection in the development of the arisen
Enlightenment-factor of Equanimity comes to be.
    "Thus he lives observing mental objects internally, etc....
Thus, Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives observing the Seven Factors of enlightenment as mental objects.
( Four  Noble  Truths)
     'And further, Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the Four Noble Truths as mental objects.
     'How Bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating the Four Noble Truths as mental objects?.
    'Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu knows.  "This is Dukkha (suffering)" according to reality; be knows:
"This is the Origin of Dukkha", according to reality; he knows:    "This the Cessation of Dukkha";
according to reality; he knows:    "This is the Path leading to the Cessation of Dukkha"; according
to reality.
      "Thus he lives contemplating mental objects internally, etc.....In this way, Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu
lives contemplating the Four Noble Truths as mental objects.
     "Bhikkhus, whosoever practises these four Fourdations of Mindfulness in this manner for seven
years, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him:   Highest Knowledge (Arahantship),
here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of Non-returning.
    "Bhikkhus, let alone seven years.    Should any person practise these four Foundations of Mind-
fulness in this manner for six years....for five years....four years....three years....two years....one year, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him:    Highest Knowledge, here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of Non-returning.
    "Bhikkhus, alone a year.   Should any person practise these four Foundations of Mindfulness in
this manner for seven months....for six months.....five months.....four months....three months....two
months....a month.....half a month, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him:   Highest
Knowledge, here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of Non-
returning.
    "Bhikkhus, let alone half a month.   Should any person practise these four Foundation of Mind-
fulness, in this manner, for a week, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him:   Highest
Knowledge, here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of Non-returning. 
     'Because of this was it said:   "This is the only way, Bhikkhus, for the purification of beings, for
the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching
the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely the four Foundations of Mindfulness".  This
the Blessed One said.    Satisfied, the Bhikkhus rejoiced at this words.
(Majjima   Nikaya,  Sutta No.10 )
                               ADVICE   TO  SIGALA
                               ( Domestic  and   Social  Relations)
      Thus have I heard.   The Blessed One was once staying near Rajagaha at the Squirrels' Feeling-
ground in the Bamboo Wood.
    Now at this time Sigala, a householder,s son, rising early, went our of Rajakaha.   With wet hair,
wet garments and his clasped hands uplifted, he performed the rite of worship to the several quar-
ters of earth and sky: to the east, south, west, and north, to the nadir and the zenith.
       Early that same morning, the Blessed One fressed, took howl and robe and entered Rajakaha 
seeking alms.   He saw Sigala at his rite of worship and spoke to him thus:
   'Why, young householder, do you, rising early and leaving Rajakaha, with your hair and raiment
wet, worship the several quarters of earth and sky?.
     'Sir, my father, when he was on his death-hed, said to me:    "Dear son, you should worship the
quarters of earth and sky."   So I, Sir. honouring my father,s word, reverencing, revering, holding 
it sacred, rise early and, leaving Rajakaha, worship in this way.
    'But in the Discipline of the Arya (Noble One), young householder, the six quarters should not
be worshiped in this way.'
     'How then, sir, in the Discipline of the Arya, should the six quarters be worshiped?.  It would be
an excellent thing, if the Blessed One would so teach me the way in which according to the Dis-
cipline of the Arya, the sixquarters, should be worshiped.'    Here then, young householder, reflect
carefully and I will tell you.'
       'Yes, sir, responded young Sigala.    And the Blessed One said:    'Just as, young householder,
the Aryan disciple has putaway the fur vices in conduct; just as he does no evil actions from the 
four motives; just as he does not make towards the six doors of dissipating wealth; avoiding these
fourteen evil things, he is a quardian of the six quarters, is on his way to conquer both worlds, is 
successful both in this world and in the next.        At the dissolution of the body, after death, he is reborn to a happy destiny in heaven. 
      'What are the four vices of conduct that he has put away?.
      The destruction of life, stealing, adultery, and lying.    These are the four vices of conduct that
he has put away.
      'By which four motives does he do no evil action?.   Evil actions are done from motives of par-
tiality, enmity, stupidity and fear.    But as the Aryan disciple is not led away by thesemotives he 
does no evil actions through them.
     'And which are the six doors of dissipating wealth?.   Drink; frequenting the streets at unseemly
hours; haunting fairs; gambling; associating with evil friends; idleness.
    'There are, young householder, these six dangers of drink:    The actual loss of wealth; increase
of quarrels; susceptibility to disease; an evil reputation; indecent exposure; runing one,s intelligence.
     'Six, young householder, are the perils a man runs through frequenting the streets at unseemly
hours:   He himself is undruarded or unprotected and so too are his wife and children; so also is his
property (wealth); in addition he falls under the suspicion of being responsible for undetected crimes; false rumours are attached to his name; he goes out to meet many troubles.
t
 
 

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( May, 15,  1008 )