Sila Sutta

Silatthiti Vagga, Magga Samyutta
Mahavagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

       387. Thus have I heard: At one time, the Venerable Ananda and the Venerable Bhadda were residing in the Kukkuta monastery at Pataliputta. At that time, the Venerable Bhadda, after rising in the evening from his solitary retreat, came to where the Venerable Ananda was. After offering respectful greetings to the Venerable Ananda and having said courteous formal words of felicitations, sat at one side. Having thus taken his seat, the Venerable Bhadda addressed the Venerable Ananda thus: "Friend Ananda, there are these meritorious practice of morality expounded by the Bhagava; for what benefit has the Bhagava expounded these meritorious practices of morality?

        Good, good, Friend Bhadda; it is good that you have an enquiring mind; it is good that you have sharp intelligence; it is good that you have put a question for discussion: Friend Bhadda, did you ask me, "Friend Ananda, there are these meritorious practices of morality expounded by the Bhagava, for what benefit has the Bhagava expounded these meritorious practices of morality"?

        "Yes, I did, friend"

        Friend Bhadda, the Bhagava has taught these meritorious practices of morality for the purpose of cultivating the practice of the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness.

        What are the Four? In this Teaching, the bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on the body with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas . .p... on Sensation . .p... on Mind ... p... keeps his mind steadfastly on mind-objects, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas. Friend Bhadda, the Bhagava has expounded these meritorious practices of morality for the purpose of cultivating the practice of these Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness.

End of the Sila Sutta,

the first in this Vagga.

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