The Related Suttas Collection 47.47

5. The Deathless

Bad Conduct

Then a bhikkhu went up to the Buddha … and said:

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Well then, bhikkhu, you should purify the starting point of skillful qualities. What is the beginning of skillful qualities? Give up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind and develop good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. When you’ve done this, you should develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, depending on and grounded on ethics.

What four? Meditate watching, again and again, an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Meditate watching, again and again, an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. When you develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation in this way, depending on and grounded on ethics, you can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.” …

And that bhikkhu became one of the perfected.