Ekakanipāta 6

Numbered Discourses 1.51–60

The Chapter on a Finger-Snap

51

51 “This mind, mendicants, is radiant. But it is corrupted by visiting corruptions. An unlearned ordinary person does not truly understand this. So I say that the unlearned ordinary person has no development of the mind.”

52

52 “This mind, mendicants, is radiant. And it is freed from visiting corruptions. A learned noble disciple truly understands this. So I say that the learned noble disciple has development of the mind.”

53

53 “If, mendicants, a mendicant cultivates a mind of love even as long as a finger-snap, they’re called a mendicant who does not lack absorption, who follows the Teacher’s instructions, who responds to advice, and who does not eat the country’s alms in vain. How much more so those who make much of it!”

54

54 “If, mendicants, a mendicant develops a mind of love even as long as a finger-snap, they’re called a mendicant who does not lack absorption, who follows the Teacher’s instructions, who responds to advice, and who does not eat the country’s alms in vain. How much more so those who make much of it!”

55

55 “If, mendicants, a mendicant focuses on a mind of love even as long as a finger-snap, they’re called a mendicant who does not lack absorption, who follows the Teacher’s instructions, who responds to advice, and who does not eat the country’s alms in vain. How much more so those who make much of it!”

56

56 “Mendicants, intention is the leader of all things whatsoever that are unskillful, part of the unskillful, on the side of the unskillful. Intention is the first of those things to arise, and unskillful things follow right behind.”

57

57 “Mendicants, intention is the leader of all things whatsoever that are skillful, part of the skillful, on the side of the skillful. Intention is the first of those things to arise, and skillful things follow right behind.”

58

58 “Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to unskillful qualities, or makes skillful qualities decline like negligence. When you’re negligent, unskillful qualities arise and skillful qualities decline.”

59

59 “Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to skillful qualities, or makes unskillful qualities decline like diligence. When you’re diligent, skillful qualities arise and unskillful qualities decline.”

60

60 “Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to unskillful qualities, or makes skillful qualities decline like laziness. When you’re lazy, unskillful qualities arise and skillful qualities decline.”