[71] At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus." "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, dwell accomplished in virtue (sīla), accomplished in the Pātimokkha; dwell restrained with the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; undertake and train yourselves in the training rules.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be dear and agreeable to my companions in the holy life, respected by them and held in esteem,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues, devoted to inner serenity of mind (cetosamatha), not neglecting meditation (jhāna), endowed with insight (vipassanā), a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be one who obtains robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues, devoted to inner serenity of mind, not neglecting meditation, endowed with insight, a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May the services of those whose robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick I use be of great fruit and great benefit to them,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'When those departed relatives and kinsmen who have died recollect me with a confident mind (citta), may that be of great fruit and great benefit to them,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be one who endures cold and heat, hunger and thirst; the touch of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; ill-spoken, unwelcome ways of speech; and arisen bodily feelings (vedanā) that are painful (dukkha), piercing, sharp, disagreeable, displeasing, menacing to life — may I be of a nature to bear them,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be a vanquisher of discontent and delight, and may discontent and delight not vanquish me; may I dwell having overcome discontent and delight whenever they arise,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be a vanquisher of fear and dread, and may fear and dread not vanquish me; may I dwell having overcome fear and dread whenever they arise,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I be one who gains at will, without trouble and without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues … a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"If a bhikkhu should wish, 'May I, through the destruction of the taints (āsava), realize for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), and having entered upon them, dwell therein,' he should be one who fulfills the virtues, devoted to inner serenity of mind, not neglecting meditation, endowed with insight, a cultivator of empty dwellings.
"'Bhikkhus, dwell accomplished in virtue, accomplished in the Pātimokkha; dwell restrained with the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; undertake and train yourselves in the training rules' — thus when this was said, it was said in dependence on this."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.