[228] When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One, whose meaning he has not analyzed in detail, I understand the detailed meaning thus:
"'Sāriputta, I say that form (rūpa) cognizable by the eye is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated' — so indeed this was said by the Blessed One. And with reference to what was it said? Venerable sir, such form cognizable by the eye that, when one cultivates it, unwholesome states (akusalā dhammā) increase and wholesome states diminish — such form cognizable by the eye should not be cultivated. But such form cognizable by the eye that, when one cultivates it, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase — such form cognizable by the eye should be cultivated. When it was said by the Blessed One, 'Sāriputta, I say that form cognizable by the eye is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated,' it was with reference to this that it was said. …
"… such sound cognizable by the ear should not be cultivated … such sound cognizable by the ear should be cultivated … such odour cognizable by the nose should not be cultivated … such odour cognizable by the nose should be cultivated … such taste cognizable by the tongue should not be cultivated … such [taste] cognizable by the tongue should be cultivated … such tangible cognizable by the body should not be cultivated … such tangible cognizable by the body should be cultivated …
"'Sāriputta, I say that a mind-object (dhamma) cognizable by the mind is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated' — so indeed this was said by the Blessed One. And with reference to what was it said? Venerable sir, such a mind-object cognizable by the mind that, when one cultivates it, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish — such a mind-object cognizable by the mind should not be cultivated. But such a mind-object cognizable by the mind that, when one cultivates it, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase — such a mind-object cognizable by the mind should be cultivated. When it was said by the Blessed One, 'Sāriputta, I say that a mind-object cognizable by the mind is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated,' it was with reference to this that it was said.
"Venerable sir, of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One, whose meaning he has not analyzed in detail, I understand the detailed meaning thus."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.