[160] Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One … Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, heedful, ardent, and resolute."
"It is in just this way that some foolish men (moghapurisā) here make requests only of me, and when the Dhamma has been spoken, they think only that I am to be followed around."
"Venerable sir, let the Blessed One teach me the Dhamma in brief; let the Sublime One (Sugata) teach the Dhamma in brief. Perhaps I might understand the meaning of the Blessed One's utterance; perhaps I might become an heir of the Blessed One's utterance."
"Well then, bhikkhu, you should train thus: 'My mind (citta) will be steady and well composed internally, and arisen evil, unwholesome states will not remain overpowering the mind.' Thus, bhikkhu, should you train.
"When, bhikkhu, your mind is steady and well composed internally, and arisen evil, unwholesome states do not remain overpowering the mind, then, bhikkhu, you should train thus: 'The liberation of mind by loving-kindness will be developed by me, made much of, made a vehicle, made a basis, carried out, consolidated, and well undertaken.' Thus, bhikkhu, should you train.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration (samādhi) has been developed and made much of in this way, then, bhikkhu, you should develop this concentration with thought (vitakka) and with examination (vicāra); you should develop it without thought, with examination only; you should develop it without thought and without examination; you should develop it with rapture; you should develop it without rapture; you should develop it accompanied by pleasure (sāta); you should develop it accompanied by equanimity.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed in this way and well developed, then, bhikkhu, you should train thus: 'The liberation of mind by compassion … the liberation of mind by altruistic joy … the liberation of mind by equanimity will be developed by me, made much of, made a vehicle, made a basis, carried out, consolidated, and well undertaken.' Thus, bhikkhu, should you train.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed and made much of in this way, then, bhikkhu, you should develop this concentration with thought and with examination; you should develop it without thought, with examination only; you should develop it without thought and without examination; you should develop it with rapture; you should develop it without rapture; you should develop it accompanied by pleasure; you should develop it accompanied by equanimity.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed in this way and well developed, then, bhikkhu, you should train thus: 'I will dwell contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world.' Thus, bhikkhu, should you train.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed and made much of in this way, then, bhikkhu, you should develop this concentration with thought and with examination; you should develop it without thought, with examination only; you should develop it without thought and without examination; you should develop it with rapture; you should develop it without rapture; you should develop it accompanied by pleasure; you should develop it accompanied by equanimity.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed in this way and well developed, then, bhikkhu, you should train thus: 'I will dwell contemplating feelings in feelings (vedanā) … the mind in the mind … dhammas in dhammas, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world.' Thus, bhikkhu, should you train.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed and made much of in this way, then, bhikkhu, you should develop this concentration with thought and with examination; you should develop it without thought, with examination only; you should develop it without thought and without examination; you should develop it with rapture; you should develop it without rapture; you should develop it accompanied by pleasure; you should develop it accompanied by equanimity.
"When, bhikkhu, this concentration has been developed in this way and well developed, then, bhikkhu, wherever you walk, you will walk only at ease; wherever you stand, you will stand only at ease; wherever you sit, you will sit only at ease; wherever you lie down, you will lie down only at ease."
Then that bhikkhu, exhorted by the Blessed One with this exhortation, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him with his right side towards him, and departed. Then that bhikkhu, dwelling alone, withdrawn, heedful, ardent, and resolute, before long realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, he dwelt therein. He directly knew: "Birth (jāti) is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done; there is no more of this state of being." And that bhikkhu became one of the arahants.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.