Radiant is this mind, Bhikkhus,
yet it is soiled by alien defilements. This does the ordinary unlearned person
not understand as it really is. I tell you, that is why such uneducated ordinary
persons neither meditate nor develop mentally.
Luminous is that mind, Bhikkhus, when it is released from these foreign
impurities. This does the learned Noble Disciple understand as it really is. I
tell you, that is why that educated Noble Disciple develops mentally by
meditation.
Bhikkhus, if a monk
practices
Universal
Friendliness even during only the period of a finger-snap, then such monk
may be called "A Bhikkhu who is not without focus and who is living in accordance
with the Teaching. One who neither opposes the Master's advice nor
eats the alms-food of the people
without a purpose!".
What then should be said about those, who train it much!
Bhikkhus, if a monk develops Universal Friendliness, during even only the
instant of a finger-snap, then such a monk may be described as "A Bhikkhu who is
not without concentration who is living in agreement with the Teaching. One who neither resists the Master's advice nor eats the alms-food of the
citizens without justification." What then should be said about those,
who train it much!
[11] Bhikkhus, if a monk directs his attention towards Universal
Friendliness during even only the duration of a finger-snap, then such a monk may
be designated "A Bhikkhu who is not without absorption and who is living in
harmony with the Teaching. One who acts upon the Masters instruction and eats
the alms-food of the country with an aim." What then should be said about those,
who train it much!
Whatsoever there are of
detrimental states, Bhikkhus, connected with
the wrong, joined with evil, all these are initiated by the mind! First does the
preceding bad mental state arise, then the disadvantageous phenomena follow
after...
Whatsoever there are of
advantageous states,
Bhikkhus, connected with the right, related with the good, all these are also
initiated by the mind! First does the preceding clever mental state arise, then the
advantageous phenomena follow after...
Bhikkhus, I know of
no other single thing as
neglect, which both
makes non-arisen detrimental states emerge and also eliminates any present
advantageous state. Bhikkhus, if wrong is not yet present negligence makes it
begin, and it also makes what is good waste away.
Bhikkhus, I comprehend
no other single state as
being Alert, which both makes non-arisen
advantageous states emerge and also eliminates any present detrimental state.
Bhikkhus, if good is not yet present alertness makes it begin and it also makes
what is wrong fade away.
Bhikkhus, I perceive no other single phenomenon as
laziness, which
either makes unarisen
evil states appear or it eliminates whatever useful state. Bhikkhus, if bad is not yet present,
laziness makes it begin and it also makes all that is valuable vanish.