AN4.37 — The Aparihāniya Sutta
Disciples, a disciple endowed with four qualities is incapable of decline and is near to Nibbana. What are these four?
Here, disciples, a disciple is endowed with virtue, has guarded sense doors, is moderate in eating, and is devoted to wakefulness.
And how, disciples, is a disciple endowed with virtue? Here, a disciple is virtuous, abiding with restraint according to the monastic code, perfect in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and training in the precepts he has undertaken. Thus, disciples, a disciple is endowed with virtue.
And how, disciples, does a disciple have guarded sense doors? Here, a disciple, on seeing a form with the eye, does not grasp at the sign or the detail. Since for unguarded eye faculty, covetousness and grief, evil unskilled states might flow in, he practices the restraint, guards the eye faculty, and attains control over the eye faculty. Similar practices apply to the ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, thus guarding the mental faculty and attaining control over it. Thus, disciples, a disciple has guarded sense doors.
And how, disciples, is a disciple moderate in eating? Here, a disciple considers wisely the food he consumes—not for fun, for indulgence, for adornment, or for beautification, but simply for the sustenance and maintenance of this body, to avoid harm, to support the holy life, thinking, Thus I will terminate the former feeling and not arouse new feeling; I will be healthy, blameless, and live in comfort. Thus, disciples, a disciple is moderate in eating.
And how, disciples, is a disciple devoted to wakefulness? Here, a disciple purifies his mind of obstructive states by walking and sitting in the day; during the first watch of the night, he purifies his mind of obstructive states by walking and sitting.
In the middle watch of the night, he arranges his rest on the right side in the lions posture, placing foot upon foot, mindful, clearly aware, with the intention to rise. In the last watch of the night, upon rising, he purifies his mind of obstructive states through walking and sitting meditation. Thus, disciples, a disciple is devoted to wakefulness.
A disciple endowed with these four qualities is incapable of decline and approaches only Nibbana. Established in virtue, with restrained faculties, moderate in eating, he is dedicated to wakefulness.
Dwelling thus, ardent, untiring day and night, he develops wholesome qualities, achieving safety from bondage. A disciple who delights in diligence, or who sees danger in negligence, is incapable of decline and is close to Nibbana.
This is the seventh factor.