4.
The Discourse on What Should and Should Not Be Cultivated
109. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Monks." "Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this - "I will teach you, monks, an exposition of the Teaching on what is to be practised and what is not to be practised. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"Bodily conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that bodily conduct is mutually distinct. Verbal conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that verbal conduct is mutually distinct. Mental conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that mental conduct is mutually distinct. Arising of consciousness, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that arising of consciousness is mutually distinct. Acquisition of perception, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of perception is mutually distinct. Acquisition of view, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of view is mutually distinct. Acquisition of individual existence, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of individual existence is mutually distinct."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One - "I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus.
110. "'Bodily conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that bodily conduct is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such bodily conduct should not be practised; and whatever bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such bodily conduct should be practised.
111. "What kind of bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is a killer of living beings, cruel, with bloody hands, devoted to striking and killing, without compassion for living beings; and he is a taker of what is not given; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, whether in the village or in the forest, that which is not given, reckoned a theft, he takes; and he engages in sexual misconduct; those women who are protected by the mother, protected by the father, protected by both mother and father, protected by the brother, protected by the sister, protected by relatives, protected by the clan, protected by co-religionists, having an owner, under penalty, even those encircled with a garland of flowers, he commits adultery with such women - such bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one, having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings; with rod laid down, with knife laid down, one who has shame, compassionate, he dwells concerned for the welfare of all living beings; having abandoned taking what is not given, he abstains from taking what is not given; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, whether in the village or in the forest, that which is not given, reckoned a theft, he does not take; having abandoned sexual misconduct, he abstains from sexual misconduct; those women who are protected by the mother, protected by the father, protected by both mother and father, protected by the brother, protected by the sister, protected by relatives, protected by the clan, protected by co-religionists, having an owner, under penalty, even those encircled with a garland of flowers, he does not commit adultery with such women - such bodily conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Bodily conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that bodily conduct is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
"'Verbal conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that verbal conduct is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such verbal conduct should not be practised; and whatever verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such verbal conduct should be practised.
112. "What kind of verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is a liar; having gone to an assembly, or having gone to a company, or having gone among relatives, or having gone among a guild, or having gone among the royal court, being brought forward and questioned as a witness - 'Come, good man, tell what you know' - he, not knowing, says - 'I know,' or knowing, says - 'I do not know'; or not seeing, says - 'I see,' or seeing, says - 'I do not see' - thus for his own sake, or for another's sake, or for the sake of some trifling material gain, he becomes a conscious speaker of falsehood; and he is a speaker of divisive speech; having heard here, he repeats it elsewhere to divide these people, or having heard elsewhere, he repeats it here to divide those people - thus he is one who divides those who are united, or a supporter of those who are divided, rejoicing in discord, delighting in discord, taking delight in discord, he is a speaker of words that create discord; and he is a speaker of harsh speech; whatever speech is rough, harsh, hurtful to others, offensive to others, bordering on wrath, not conducive to concentration, he speaks such speech; and he is a speaker of idle chatter; he speaks at the wrong time, speaks what is not factual, speaks what is unbeneficial, speaks what is not the Teaching, speaks what is not the discipline; he speaks words not worth treasuring, at the wrong time, without reason, without limit, not connected with benefit - such verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one, having abandoned lying, abstains from lying; having gone to an assembly, or having gone to a company, or having gone among relatives, or having gone among a guild, or having gone among the royal court, being brought forward and questioned as a witness - 'Come, good man, tell what you know' - he, not knowing, says - 'I do not know,' or knowing, says - 'I know,' or not seeing, says - 'I do not see,' or seeing, says - 'I see' - thus for his own sake, or for another's sake, or for the sake of some trifling material gain, he does not become a conscious speaker of falsehood; having abandoned divisive speech, he abstains from divisive speech; having heard here, he does not repeat it elsewhere to divide these people, or having heard elsewhere, he does not repeat it here to divide those people - thus he is one who reunites those who are divided, a promoter of those who are united, rejoicing in concord, delighting in concord, taking delight in concord, he is a speaker of words that create concord; having abandoned harsh speech, he abstains from harsh speech; he speaks such words as are gentle, pleasing to the ear, affectionate, going to the heart, urbane, pleasing and agreeable to many people; having abandoned idle chatter, he abstains from idle chatter; he speaks at the right time, speaks what is factual, speaks what is beneficial, speaks on the Teaching, speaks on the discipline; he speaks words worth treasuring, timely, reasonable, well-defined, connected with the goal - such verbal conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Verbal conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that verbal conduct is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
"'Mental conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that mental conduct is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such mental conduct should not be practised; and whatever mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such mental conduct should be practised.
113. "What kind of mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is covetous; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, he covets - 'Oh, may what belongs to another be mine!' And he has a corrupted mind, with evil mental intentions - 'May these beings be killed, or slaughtered, or annihilated, or destroyed, or may they not exist!' Such mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is non-covetous; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, he does not covet - 'Oh, may what belongs to another be mine!' And he has a mind without ill-will, with uncorrupted mental intention - 'May these beings be free from enmity, free from affliction, free from trouble, may they look after themselves happily.' Such mental conduct, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Mental conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that mental conduct is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
114. "'Arising of consciousness, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that arising of consciousness is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such arising of consciousness should not be practised; and whatever arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such arising of consciousness should be practised.
"What kind of arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is covetous, he dwells with a mind accompanied by covetousness; he has anger, he dwells with a mind accompanied by anger; he is harming, he dwells with a mind accompanied by harming - such arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is non-covetous, he dwells with a mind accompanied by non-covetousness; he has non-anger, he dwells with a mind accompanied by non-anger; he is non-harming, he dwells with a mind accompanied by non-harming - such arising of consciousness, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Arising of consciousness, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that arising of consciousness is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
115. "'Acquisition of perception, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of perception is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such acquisition of perception should not be practised; and whatever acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such acquisition of perception should be practised.
"What kind of acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is covetous, he dwells with perception accompanied by covetousness; he has anger, he dwells with perception accompanied by anger; he is harming, he dwells with perception accompanied by harming - such acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one is non-covetous, he dwells with perception accompanied by non-covetousness; he has non-anger, he dwells with perception accompanied by non-anger; he is non-harming, he dwells with perception accompanied by non-harming - such acquisition of perception, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Acquisition of perception, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of perception is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
116. "'Acquisition of view, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of view is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such acquisition of view should not be practised; and whatever acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase - such acquisition of view should be practised.
"What kind of acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, venerable sir, a certain one holds this view - 'There is not what is given, there is not what is sacrificed, there is not what is offered, there is no result and consequence of good and bad actions, there is not this world, there is not the other world, there is not mother, there is not father, there are no spontaneously reborn beings, there are not in the world ascetics and brahmins who have gone the right way, who have rightly practised, who proclaim this world and the other world, having realised them by direct knowledge themselves' - such acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, venerable sir, a certain one holds this view - 'There is what is given, there is what is sacrificed, there is what is offered, there is result and consequence of good and bad actions, there is this world, there is the other world, there is mother, there is father, there are spontaneously reborn beings, there are in the world ascetics and brahmins who have gone the right way, who have rightly practised, who proclaim this world and the other world, having realised them by direct knowledge themselves' - such acquisition of view, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Acquisition of view, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of view is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
117. "'Acquisition of individual existence, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of individual existence is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever acquisition of individual existence, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline - such acquisition of individual existence should not be practised; and whatever acquisition of individual existence, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase - such acquisition of individual existence should be practised.
"What kind of acquisition of individual existence, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? When one brings into existence an afflictive acquisition of individual existence, venerable sir, for the non-completion of existences, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline; when one brings into existence a non-afflictive acquisition of individual existence, venerable sir, for the completion of existences, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Acquisition of individual existence, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of individual existence is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
"I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus."
118. "Good, good, Sāriputta! Good indeed, Sāriputta, you understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus in detail.
"'Bodily conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that bodily conduct is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by me. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such bodily conduct should not be practised; and whatever bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase - such bodily conduct should be practised.
"What kind of bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? Here, Sāriputta, a certain one is a killer of living beings, cruel, with bloody hands, devoted to striking and killing, without compassion for living beings; and he is a taker of what is not given; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, whether in the village or in the forest, that which is not given, reckoned a theft, he takes; and he engages in sexual misconduct; those women who are protected by the mother, protected by the father, protected by both mother and father, protected by the brother, protected by the sister, protected by relatives, protected by the clan, protected by co-religionists, having an owner, under penalty, even those encircled with a garland of flowers, he commits adultery with such women - such bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline.
"What kind of bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase? Here, Sāriputta, a certain one, having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings; with rod laid down, with knife laid down, one who has shame, compassionate, he dwells concerned for the welfare of all living beings; having abandoned taking what is not given, he abstains from taking what is not given; whatever belongs to another, another's wealth and requisites, whether in the village or in the forest, that which is not given, reckoned a theft, he does not take; having abandoned sexual misconduct, he abstains from sexual misconduct; those women who are protected by the mother, protected by the father, protected by both mother and father, protected by the brother, protected by the sister, protected by relatives, protected by the clan, protected by co-religionists, having an owner, under penalty, even those encircled with a garland of flowers, he does not commit adultery with such women - such bodily conduct, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Bodily conduct, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that bodily conduct is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that.
‘'Verbal conduct, monks, I say is twofold etc. Mental conduct, monks, I say is twofold, etc. Arising of consciousness, monks, I say is twofold, etc. Acquisition of perception, monks, I say is twofold, etc. Acquisition of view, monks, I say is twofold, etc.
"'Acquisition of individual existence, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of individual existence is mutually distinct' - thus indeed this was said by me. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever acquisition of individual existence, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such acquisition of individual existence should not be practised; and whatever acquisition of individual existence, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase - such acquisition of individual existence should be practised.
"What kind of acquisition of individual existence, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline? When one brings into existence an afflictive acquisition of individual existence, Sāriputta, for the non-completion of existences, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline; when one brings into existence a non-afflictive acquisition of individual existence, Sāriputta, for the completion of existences, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase. 'Acquisition of individual existence, monks, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; and that acquisition of individual existence is mutually distinct' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that. This, Sāriputta, is how the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief should be seen in detail.
119. "Form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; sound cognizable by the ear, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; odour cognizable by the nose, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; flavour cognizable by the tongue, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; tangible object cognizable by the body, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised; mental object cognizable by the mind, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be cultivated and not to be cultivated."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One - "I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus. 'Form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever form cognizable by the eye, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such form cognizable by the eye should not be practised; and whatever form cognizable by the eye, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such form cognizable by the eye should be practised. 'Form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
"Sound cognizable by the ear, Sāriputta, etc. such sound cognizable by the ear should not be practised... such sound cognizable by the ear should be practised... such odour cognizable by the nose should not be practised... such odour cognizable by the nose should be practised... such flavour cognizable by the tongue should not be practised... such flavour cognizable by the tongue should be practised... tangible object cognizable by the body, Sāriputta... such tangible object cognizable by the body should not be practised... such tangible object cognizable by the body should be practised.
"'Mental object cognizable by the mind, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever mental object cognizable by the mind, venerable sir, when cultivating which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such mental object cognizable by the mind should not be cultivated; and whatever mental object cognizable by the mind, venerable sir, when cultivating which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such mental object cognizable by the mind should be cultivated. 'Mental object cognizable by the mind, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that. I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus."
120. "Good, good, Sāriputta! Good indeed, Sāriputta, you understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus in detail. 'Form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by me. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such form cognizable by the eye should not be practised; and whatever form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such form cognizable by the eye should be practised. 'Form cognizable by the eye, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that.
"Sound cognizable by the ear, Sāriputta, etc. such sound cognizable by the ear should not be practised... such sound cognizable by the ear should be practised... such odour cognizable by the nose should not be practised... such odour cognizable by the nose should be practised... such flavour cognizable by the tongue should not be practised... such flavour cognizable by the tongue should be practised... such tangible object cognizable by the body should not be practised... such tangible object cognizable by the body should be practised.
"Mental object cognizable by the mind, Sāriputta, etc. such mental object cognizable by the mind should not be practised... such mental object cognizable by the mind should be practised. 'Mental object cognizable by the mind, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that. This, Sāriputta, is how the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief should be seen in detail.
121. "Robe, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised... etc. Almsfood, Sāriputta... Lodging, Sāriputta... Village, Sāriputta... Market town, Sāriputta... City, Sāriputta... Country, Sāriputta... Person, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be cultivated and not to be cultivated."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One - "I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus. 'Robe, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever robe, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such robe should not be practised; and whatever robe, venerable sir, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such robe should be practised. 'Robe, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that.
"Almsfood, Sāriputta... etc. such almsfood should not be practised... such almsfood should be practised... Lodging, Sāriputta... etc. such lodging should not be practised... such lodging should be practised... Village, Sāriputta. Etc.... such village should not be practised... such village should be practised... such market town should not be practised... such market town should be practised... such city should not be practised... such city should be practised... such country should not be practised... such country should be practised.
"'Person, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by the Blessed One. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever person, venerable sir, when associating with whom unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such a person should not be associated with; and whatever person, venerable sir, when associating with whom unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such a person should be associated with. 'Person, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by the Blessed One, this was said dependent on that. I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus."
122. "Good, good, Sāriputta! Good indeed, Sāriputta, you understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief, the meaning not explained in detail, thus in detail. 'Robe, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by me. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever robe, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such robe should not be practised; and whatever robe, Sāriputta, when practising which unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such robe should be practised. 'Robe, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that. such almsfood... such lodging... such village... such market town... such city... such country.
"'Person, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said by me. Dependent on what was this said? Whatever person, Sāriputta, when associating with whom unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, such a person should not be associated with; and whatever person, Sāriputta, when associating with whom unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase, such a person should be associated with. 'Person, Sāriputta, I say is twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said by me, this was said dependent on that. This, Sāriputta, is how the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief should be seen in detail.
123. "If even all the warriors, Sāriputta, were to understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief thus, it would be for the welfare and happiness of all the warriors for a long time. If even all the brahmins, Sāriputta... etc. if even all the merchants, Sāriputta... if even all the workers, Sāriputta, were to understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief thus, it would be for the welfare and happiness of all the workers for a long time. If even the world with its gods, Sāriputta, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, were to understand in detail the meaning of what was spoken by me in brief thus, it would be for the welfare and happiness of the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, of the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, for a long time."
This is what the Blessed One said. Delighted, the Venerable Sāriputta rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said.
The Discourse on What Should Be Cultivated and What Should Not Be Cultivated is concluded as fourth.