Mindfulness and Clear Knowing

Disciples, when mindfulness and clear knowing are absent, for one deficient in mindfulness and clear knowing, the vital condition for conscience and prudence is destroyed.

When conscience and prudence are absent, for one deficient in conscience and prudence, the vital condition for restraint of the sense faculties is destroyed.

When restraint of the sense faculties is absent, for one deficient in restraint of the sense faculties, the vital condition for ethical conduct is destroyed.

When ethical conduct is absent, for one deficient in ethical conduct, the vital condition for right concentration is destroyed.

When right concentration is absent, for one deficient in right concentration, the vital condition for knowing and seeing things as they actually are is destroyed.

When knowing and seeing things as they actually are is absent, for one deficient in knowing and seeing things as they actually are, the vital condition for disenchantment and dispassion is destroyed.

When disenchantment and dispassion are absent, for one deficient in disenchantment and dispassion, the vital condition for the knowing and vision of liberation is destroyed.

Suppose, disciples, a tree is deficient in its branches and foliage.

Its outer bark does not develop to fullness, nor does its inner bark…

its sapwood…

or its heartwood develop to fullness.

In exactly the same way, disciples, when mindfulness and clear knowing are absent, for one deficient in mindfulness and clear knowing, the vital condition for conscience and prudence is destroyed; when conscience and prudence are absent, for one deficient in conscience and prudence, the vital condition is destroyed… down to…

the knowing and vision of liberation.

Disciples, when mindfulness and clear knowing are present, for one accomplished in mindfulness and clear knowing, the vital condition for conscience and prudence is fulfilled.

When conscience and prudence are present, for one accomplished in conscience and prudence, the vital condition for restraint of the sense faculties is fulfilled.

When restraint of the sense faculties is present, for one accomplished in restraint of the sense faculties, the vital condition for ethical conduct is fulfilled.

When ethical conduct is present, for one accomplished in ethical conduct, the vital condition for right concentration is fulfilled.

When right concentration is present, for one accomplished in right concentration, the vital condition for knowing and seeing things as they actually are is fulfilled.

When knowing and seeing things as they actually are is present, for one accomplished in knowing and seeing things as they actually are, the vital condition for disenchantment and dispassion is fulfilled.

When disenchantment and dispassion are present, for one accomplished in disenchantment and dispassion, the vital condition for the knowing and vision of liberation is fulfilled.

Suppose, disciples, a tree is complete with its branches and foliage.

Its outer bark develops to fullness, and its inner bark…

its sapwood…

and its heartwood develop to fullness.

In exactly the same way, disciples, when mindfulness and clear knowing are present, for one accomplished in mindfulness and clear knowing, the vital condition for conscience and prudence is fulfilled; when conscience and prudence are present, for one accomplished in conscience and prudence, the vital condition is fulfilled.

Down to… the knowing and vision of liberation.

The first.