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"O
bhikkhus, should any person maintain the Four Arousings of Mindfulness in this
manner for seven years, then by him one of two fruitions is proper to be
expected: Knowledge (Arahantship) here and now; or, if some form of clinging is
yet present, the state of Non-Returning (the Third Stage of Supramundane
Fulfillment).
"O
bhikkhus, let alone seven years. Should a person maintain these Four Arousings
of Mindfulness, in this manner, for six years... for five years... four
years... three years... two years... one year, then by him one of two fruitions
is proper to be expected: knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging
is yet present, the state of Non-Returning.
"O
bhikkhus, let alone a year. Should any person maintain these Four Arousings of
Mindfulness, in the manner, for seven months, then by him one of two fruitions
is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging
is yet present, the state of Non-Returning.
"O
bhikkhus, let alone seven months. Should any person maintain these Four
Arousings of Mindfulness in this manner for six months... five months... four
months... three months... two months... one month... half-a-month, then, by him
one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if
some form of clinging is yet present, the state of Non-Returning.
"O
bhikkhus, let alone half-a-month. Should any person maintain these Four
Arousings of Mindfulness in this manner for a week, then by him one of two
fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if some form of
clinging is yet present, the state of Non-Returning.
"Because
of this was it said: 'This is the only way, O bhikkhus, for the purification of
beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of
suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of
Nibbana, namely, the Four Arousings of Mindfulness."
Thus
spoke the Blessed One. Satisfied, the bhikkhus approved of his words.
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