Light/Dark
☰

Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN46: Connected Discourses on the Factors of Enlightenment

SN46:106 The Rain Cloud (1)

1"Bhikkhus, just as, in the last month of the hot season, when a mass of dust and dirt has swirled up, a great rain cloud out of season disperses it and quells it on the spot;

so too, when a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the factors of enlightenment, whenever evil unwholesome states arise, he disperses them and quells them on the spot.

"And how is this 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 whenever evil unwholesome states arise, he disperses them and quells them on the spot."

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gimhānaṁ pacchime māse ūhataṁ rajojallaṁ, tamenaṁ mahāakālamegho ṭhānaso antaradhāpeti vūpasameti; … pe …