1"Bhikkhus, suppose a tree were slanting, sloping, and inclining towards the east. If it were cut at its foot, in what direction would it fall?"

"In whatever direction it was slanting, sloping, and inclining, venerable sir."

"So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the factors of enlightenment slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

"And how does a bhikkhu do so?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
develops the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states,
develops the enlightenment factor of energy,
develops the enlightenment factor of rapture,
develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity,
develops the enlightenment factor of concentration,
develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity,
- which are based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release;
- which have as their final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion;
- which have the Deathless as their ground, the Deathless as their destination, the Deathless as their final goal;
- which slant, slope, and incline towards Nibbāna.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the factors of enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna."

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rukkho pācīnaninno pācīnapoṇo pācīnapabbhāro. So mūlacchinno katamena papateyyā"ti?

"Yena, bhante, ninno yena poṇo yena pabbhāro"ti. … pe …