“Mendicants, when these four times are rightly developed and reiterated, they gradually lead to the ending of defilements. What four? A time for listening to the teaching, a time for discussing the teaching, a time for serenity, and a time for discernment.

It’s like when the heavens rain heavily on a mountain top, and the water flows downhill to fill the hollows, crevices, and creeks. As they become full, they fill up the pools. The pools fill up the lakes, the lakes fill up the streams, and the streams fill up the rivers. And as the rivers become full, they fill up the ocean. In the same way, when these four times are rightly developed and reiterated, they gradually lead to the ending of defilements.”

Numbered Discourses 4.148 15. Brightness Bad Conduct

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of bad conduct by way of speech. What four? Speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. These are the four kinds of bad conduct by way of speech.”

Numbered Discourses 4.149 15. Brightness Good Conduct

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of good conduct by way of speech. What four? Speech that’s true, harmonious, gentle, and thoughtful. These are the four kinds of good conduct by way of speech.”

Numbered Discourses 4.150 15. Brightness Essentials

“Mendicants, there are these four essentials. What four? Ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom are essentials. These are the four essentials.”

Numbered Discourses 4.151 16. Faculties Faculties