2.
The Chapter on the Sick
1.
The Discourse on Living Beings
192. "Just as, monks, whatever living beings prepare the four postures - walking at the proper time, standing at the proper time, sitting at the proper time, lying down at the proper time, all of them in dependence on earth, established upon earth, thus prepare these four postures; just so, monks, a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, monks, does a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develop the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, monks, a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment." The first.
2.
The First Discourse on the Simile of the Sun
193. "For the rising of the sun, monks, this is the forerunner, this is the advanced sign, that is to say - the break of dawn; just so, monks, for a monk, for the arising of the seven factors of enlightenment, this is the forerunner, this is the advanced sign, that is to say - good friendship. For a monk with good friends, monks, this is to be expected - he will develop the seven factors of enlightenment, he will cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, monks, does a monk with good friends develop the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, monks, a monk with good friends develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment." The second.
3.
The Second Discourse on the Simile of the Sun
194. "For the rising of the sun, monks, this is the forerunner, this is the advanced sign, that is to say - the break of dawn; just so, monks, for a monk, for the arising of the seven factors of enlightenment, this is the forerunner, this is the advanced sign, that is to say - wise attention. For a monk accomplished in wise attention, monks, this is to be expected - he will develop the seven factors of enlightenment, he will cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, monks, does a monk accomplished in wise attention develop the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, monks, a monk accomplished in wise attention develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment." The third.
4.
The First Discourse on the Sick
195. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time the Venerable Mahākassapa was dwelling in the Pippali Cave, sick, afflicted, severely ill. Then the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Mahākassapa; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Mahākassapa -
"Is it bearable for you, Kassapa, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?" "It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding."
"These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna." "Truly, Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment; truly, Fortunate One, they are factors of enlightenment."
This is what the Blessed One said. Delighted, the Venerable Mahākassapa rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said. And the Venerable Mahākassapa recovered from that illness. And that illness of the Venerable Mahākassapa was thus abandoned. The fourth.
5.
The Second Discourse on the Sick
196. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was dwelling on the Vulture's Peak mountain, sick, afflicted, severely ill. Then the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna -
"Is it bearable for you, Moggallāna, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?" "It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding."
"These seven factors of enlightenment, Moggallāna, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, Moggallāna, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, Moggallāna, has been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. These seven factors of enlightenment, Moggallāna, have been rightly proclaimed by me, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna." "Truly, Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment; truly, Fortunate One, they are factors of enlightenment."
This is what the Blessed One said. Delighted, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said. And the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna recovered from that illness. And that illness of the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was thus abandoned. The fifth.
6.
The Third Discourse on the Sick
197. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time the Blessed One was sick, afflicted, severely ill. Then the Venerable Mahācunda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To the Venerable Mahācunda seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "Let the factors of enlightenment occur to you, Cunda."
"These seven factors of enlightenment, venerable sir, have been rightly proclaimed by the Blessed One, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, venerable sir, has been rightly proclaimed by the Blessed One, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, venerable sir, has been rightly proclaimed by the Blessed One, developed and cultivated; it leads to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. These seven factors of enlightenment, venerable sir, have been rightly proclaimed by the Blessed One, developed and cultivated; they lead to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna." "Truly, Cunda, factors of enlightenment; truly, Cunda, factors of enlightenment."
This the Venerable Cunda said. The Teacher was approving. And the Blessed One recovered from that illness. And that illness of the Blessed One was thus abandoned. The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Going to the Far Shore
198. "Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, lead to going from the near shore to the far shore. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, etc. the enlightenment factor of equanimity - these, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which, when developed and cultivated, lead to going from the near shore to the far shore."
And this other generation just runs along the shore.
Those people will go beyond, the realm of Death so hard to cross.
Having come from home to homelessness, in seclusion where delight is hard.
The wise one should purify oneself of the mental defilements of the mind.
Who delight in the relinquishment of grasping, by non-clinging;
Those who have eliminated the mental corruptions, brilliant, they are quenched in the world." The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on Failed
199. "For whomsoever, monks, the seven factors of enlightenment have been missed, missed for them is the noble path rightly leading to the destruction of suffering. For whomsoever, monks, the seven factors of enlightenment have been undertaken, undertaken for them is the noble path rightly leading to the destruction of suffering. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, etc. the enlightenment factor of equanimity - for whomsoever, monks, these seven factors of enlightenment have been missed, missed for them is the noble path rightly leading to the destruction of suffering. For whomsoever, monks, these seven factors of enlightenment have been undertaken, undertaken for them is the noble path rightly leading to the destruction of suffering." The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on the Noble
200. "Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, are noble, leading to liberation, and lead one who practises them to the complete destruction of suffering. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, etc. the enlightenment factor of equanimity - these, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which, when developed and cultivated, are noble, leading to liberation, and lead one who practises them to the complete destruction of suffering." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Disenchantment
201. "Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, lead exclusively to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to highest enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, etc. the enlightenment factor of equanimity - these, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which, when developed and cultivated, lead exclusively to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to highest enlightenment, to Nibbāna." The tenth.
The Sick Chapter is the second.
Its summary:
Going to the far shore, missed, noble, and for disenchantment.