{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn46.53/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn46.53","id":"suttacentral_sn46.53","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn46.53/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered S\u0101vatth\u012b for alms. (The same as the previous discourse.) \u201cMendicants, when wanderers of other religions say this, you should say to them: \u2018Reverends, which awakening factors should not be developed when the mind is sluggish? And which awakening factors should be developed at that time? Which awakening factors should not be developed when the mind is restless? And which awakening factors should be developed at that time?\u2019 Questioned like this, the wanderers of other religions would be stumped, and, in addition, would get frustrated. Why is that? Because they\u2019re out of their element. I don\u2019t see anyone in this world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans\u2014who could provide a satisfying answer to these questions except the Realized One or his disciple or someone who has heard it from them. When the mind is sluggish, it\u2019s the wrong time to develop the awakening factors of tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Why is that? Because it\u2019s hard to stimulate a sluggish mind with these things. Suppose someone wanted to make a small fire flare up. If they toss wet grass, cow-dung, and timber on it, spray it with water, and scatter dirt on it, could they make it flare up?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, when the mind is sluggish, it\u2019s the wrong time to develop the awakening factors of tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Why is that? Because it\u2019s hard to stimulate a sluggish mind with these things. When the mind is sluggish, it\u2019s the right time to develop the awakening factors of investigation of principles, energy, and rapture. Why is that? Because it\u2019s easy to stimulate a sluggish mind with these things. Suppose someone wanted to make a small fire flare up. If they toss dry grass, cow-dung, and timber on it, blow on it, and don\u2019t scatter dirt on it, could they make it flare up?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, when the mind is sluggish, it\u2019s the right time to develop the awakening factors of investigation of principles, energy, and rapture. Why is that? Because it\u2019s easy to stimulate a sluggish mind with these things. When the mind is restless, it\u2019s the wrong time to develop the awakening factors of investigation of principles, energy, and rapture. Why is that? Because it\u2019s hard to settle a restless mind with these things. Suppose someone wanted to extinguish a great mass of fire. If they toss dry grass, cow-dung, and timber on it, blow on it, and don\u2019t scatter dirt on it, could they extinguish it?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, when the mind is restless, it\u2019s the wrong time to develop the awakening factors of investigation of principles, energy, and rapture. Why is that? Because it\u2019s hard to settle a restless mind with these things. When the mind is restless, it\u2019s the right time to develop the awakening factors of tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Why is that? Because it\u2019s easy to settle a restless mind with these things. Suppose someone wanted to extinguish a great mass of fire. If they toss wet grass, cow-dung, and timber on it, spray it with water, and scatter dirt on it, could they extinguish it?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, when the mind is restless, it\u2019s the right time to develop the awakening factors of tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Why is that? Because it\u2019s easy to settle a restless mind with these things. But mindfulness is always useful, I say.\u201d","title":"Fire","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":593}