1"Bhikkhus, suppose a spike of rice or a spike of barley were rightly directed and were pressed upon by the hand or the foot. That it could pierce the hand or the foot and draw blood: this is possible. For what reason? Because the spike is rightly directed.

"So too, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu with a rightly directed view, with a rightly directed development of the factors of enlightenment, could pierce ignorance, arouse true knowledge, and realize Nibbāna: this is possible. For what reason? Because his view is rightly directed.

"And how does a bhikkhu with a rightly directed view pierce ignorance, arouse true knowledge, and realize Nibbāna?

"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 with a rightly directed view, with a rightly directed development of the factors of enlightenment, pierces ignorance, arouses true knowledge, and realizes Nibbāna."

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sālisūkaṁ vā yavasūkaṁ vā sammāpaṇihitaṁ hatthena vā pādena vā akkantaṁ hatthaṁ vā pādaṁ vā bhindissati lohitaṁ vā uppādessatīti – ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sammāpaṇihitattā, bhikkhave, sūkassa. … pe …