Saṁyutta Nikāya 46.53 6.

Fire Discourse

Sākacchavagga Aggisutta Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.

Then several disciples, having dressed in the morning and taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

(Pariyāyasuttasadisaṁ.) “Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye līnaṁ cittaṁ hoti, katamesaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bojjhaṅgānaṁ akālo bhāvanāya, katamesaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bojjhaṅgānaṁ kālo bhāvanāya?

Disciples, when speaking to wanderers of other sects, they should be addressed as follows: Friends, when the mind is sluggish, which of the factors of enlightenment is it not the right time for cultivation, and during which is it the right time?

Yasmiṁ panāvuso, samaye uddhataṁ cittaṁ hoti, katamesaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bojjhaṅgānaṁ akālo bhāvanāya, katamesaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bojjhaṅgānaṁ kālo bhāvanāyā’ti?

And when the mind is restless, for which of the factors of enlightenment is it not the right time for cultivation, and for which is it the right time?

Evaṁ puṭṭhā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā na ceva sampāyissanti, uttariñca vighātaṁ āpajjissanti.

When asked in this way the wanderers of other sects will neither succeed in answering nor will they find an escape.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Yathā taṁ, bhikkhave, avisayasmiṁ.

Because it is beyond their scope.

Nāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhave, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yo imesaṁ pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya, aññatra tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā ito vā pana sutvā.

Disciples, I do not see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans, who could satisfy the mind with answers to these questions, except for the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata, or someone who has heard it from them.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye līnaṁ cittaṁ hoti, akālo tasmiṁ samaye passaddhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo samādhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

When the mind is sluggish, it is not the right time for the cultivation of the tranquility factor of enlightenment, the concentration factor of enlightenment, or the equanimity factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Līnaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi dussamuṭṭhāpayaṁ hoti.

Because a sluggish mind is difficult to arouse with these states.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso parittaṁ aggiṁ ujjāletukāmo assa.

Suppose a person wanted to kindle a small fire.

So tattha allāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, allāni ca gomayāni pakkhipeyya, allāni ca kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya, udakavātañca dadeyya, paṁsukena ca okireyya; bhabbo nu kho so puriso parittaṁ aggiṁ ujjāletun”ti?

If they were to add wet grass, wet cow dung, and wet wood, and then blow cold air and sprinkle with dust; would that person be able to kindle a small fire?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

No, venerable sir.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye līnaṁ cittaṁ hoti, akālo tasmiṁ samaye passaddhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo samādhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

In the same way when the mind is sluggish, it is not the right time for the cultivation of the tranquility factor of enlightenment, the concentration factor of enlightenment, or the equanimity factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Līnaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi dussamuṭṭhāpayaṁ hoti.

Because a sluggish mind is difficult to arouse with these states.

Yasmiñca kho, bhikkhave, samaye līnaṁ cittaṁ hoti, kālo tasmiṁ samaye dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo vīriyasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo pītisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

However when the mind is sluggish, it is the right time for the cultivation of the investigation of states factor of enlightenment, the energy factor of enlightenment, and the joy factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Līnaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi susamuṭṭhāpayaṁ hoti.

Because a sluggish mind is easily aroused with these states.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso parittaṁ aggiṁ ujjāletukāmo assa.

Suppose a person wanted to kindle a small fire.

So tattha sukkhāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni gomayāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya, mukhavātañca dadeyya, na ca paṁsukena okireyya; bhabbo nu kho so puriso parittaṁ aggiṁ ujjāletun”ti?

If they were to add dry grass, dry cow dung, and dry wood, and then blow warm air and not sprinkle with dust; would that person be able to kindle a small fire?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

Yes, venerable sir.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye līnaṁ cittaṁ hoti, kālo tasmiṁ samaye dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo vīriyasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo pītisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

In the same way when the mind is sluggish, it is the right time for the cultivation of the investigation of states factor of enlightenment, the energy factor of enlightenment, and the joy factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Līnaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi susamuṭṭhāpayaṁ hoti.

Because a sluggish mind is easily aroused with these states.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye uddhataṁ cittaṁ hoti, akālo tasmiṁ samaye dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo vīriyasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo pītisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

When the mind is restless, it is not the right time for the cultivation of the investigation of states factor of enlightenment, the energy factor of enlightenment, and the joy factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Uddhataṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi duvūpasamayaṁ hoti.

Because a restless mind is difficult to calm with these states.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahantaṁ aggikkhandhaṁ nibbāpetukāmo assa.

Suppose a person wanted to extinguish a large fire.

So tattha sukkhāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni ca gomayāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni ca kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya, mukhavātañca dadeyya, na ca paṁsukena okireyya; bhabbo nu kho so puriso mahantaṁ aggikkhandhaṁ nibbāpetun”ti?

If they were to add dry grass, dry cow dung, and dry wood, and then blow warm air and not sprinkle with dust; would that person be able to extinguish a large fire?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

No, venerable sir.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye uddhataṁ cittaṁ hoti, akālo tasmiṁ samaye dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo vīriyasambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, akālo pītisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

In the same way when the mind is restless, it is not the right time for the cultivation of the investigation of states factor of enlightenment, the energy factor of enlightenment, and the joy factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Uddhataṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi duvūpasamayaṁ hoti.

Because a restless mind is difficult to calm with these states.

Yasmiñca kho, bhikkhave, samaye uddhataṁ cittaṁ hoti, kālo tasmiṁ samaye passaddhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo samādhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

However when the mind is restless, it is the right time for the cultivation of the tranquility factor of enlightenment, the concentration factor of enlightenment, and the equanimity factor of enlightenment.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Uddhataṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi suvūpasamayaṁ hoti.

Because a restless mind is easily calmed with these states.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahantaṁ aggikkhandhaṁ nibbāpetukāmo assa.

Suppose a person wanted to extinguish a large fire.

So tattha allāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, allāni ca gomayāni pakkhipeyya, allāni ca kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya, udakavātañca dadeyya, paṁsukena ca okireyya; bhabbo nu kho so puriso mahantaṁ aggikkhandhaṁ nibbāpetun”ti?

If they were to add wet grass, wet cow dung, and wet wood, and then blow cold air and sprinkle with dust; would that person be able to To extinguish a great mass of fire?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

Yes, venerable sir.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye uddhataṁ cittaṁ hoti, kālo tasmiṁ samaye passaddhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo samādhisambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya, kālo upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya.

Just so at a time when the mind is restless, it is the time for the development of the tranquility enlightenment factor, the time for the development of the concentration enlightenment factor, the time for the development of the equanimity enlightenment factor.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Uddhataṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ taṁ etehi dhammehi suvūpasamayaṁ hoti.

Because a restless mind is well calmed by these factors.

Satiñca khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbatthikaṁ vadāmī”ti. Tatiyaṁ.

And indeed I say that mindfulness is useful in all things.