One of two results is to be expected for a bhikkhu who dwells wakeful, mindful, fully aware, collected, joyful, tranquil, and discerning with clarity at a suitable occasion in regard to the wholesome mental qualities - 1) full awakening here and now, or 2) the state of non-returning.

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

"Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell wakeful (alert, lucid [jāgara), mindful and fully aware ^[1]^, collected (composed [samāhita]), joyful, tranquil, and there, he should discern with clarity at a suitable occasion in regard to the wholesome mental qualities. Bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu who dwells wakeful, mindful, fully aware, collected, joyful, tranquil, and there, discerning with clarity at a suitable occasion in regard to the wholesome mental qualities, one of two results is to be expected: either final knowledge [of full awakening] here and now, or, if there is any residual clinging for existence, the state of non-returning ^[2].^"

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

"Those who are wakeful, listen to this,You who are asleep, wake up;Being awake is better than being asleep,For the wakeful, there is no fear.

One who is wakeful, mindful, and fully aware,collected, joyful, and tranquil;By thoroughly examining the mental qualities at the proper time,unified, they dispel the darkness.

Therefore, cultivate wakefulness,The bhikkhu who is with continuous effort, discerning, and who gains jhānas at will;Having cut off the fetter of being born and ageing,will realize the highest awakening right here."

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

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[1] mindful and fully aware here is being attentive, present, with full awareness, recollecting to be:

• mindfulness of the body in and of itself: mindfulness of breathing suffices,

• mindfulness of sensation (felt experience) in and of itself,

  • pleasant sensation, painful sensation, neither-painful-nor-pleasant sensation [of the worldly kind]

  • pleasant sensation, painful sensation, neither-painful-nor-pleasant sensation [of the spiritual kind]

• mindfulness of mind (observing for emotions / perceptions rooted in greed, hate, delusion, collected, distracted, limited, exalted, liberated, not liberated) in and of itself, and

• mindfulness of mental qualities in and of themselves. The mental qualities one is mindful of are:

  • observing for the presence or absence of either of the five hindrances of doubt, sensual desire, ill-will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and worry,

  • observing for the arising and passing away of form, sensation, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness

  • observing for the arising of an unarisen fetter, or abandoning of an already arisen fetter wrt the contact through the six sense doors: eye/ear/nose/tongue/body/mind

  • observing for the presence or absence of the awakening factors, e.g. is there the awakening factor of mindfulness present in me? likewise for others

  • observing for the presence of suffering, discerning its specific cause when it is present, observing for the ending of suffering, observing for the efficacy of a practice if it is bringing about the ending of suffering.

[2] the state of non-returning is attained if there is any any remnant of grasping remaining for renewed becoming. At this point, one has dropped the five lower fetters have been dropped.

Related Teachings:

Eight Persons Worth of Gifts (AN 8.59) - The Buddha is sharing in this teaching that it is very beneficial to be associated with individuals that are enlightened or practicing to attain enlightenment.

Reviewing (Ud 6.3) - The Buddha reviews the multitude of harmful and unwholesome mental qualities he has abandoned, and the multitude of wholesome mental qualities he has developed to completion. [One continues periodically discerning on mental qualities]

The Path and the Way of Practice for removal of five lower fetters (MN 64) - In this teaching, the Buddha shares the path and the way of practice for removal of the five lower fetters of: 1.) personal existence, 2.) doubt regarding teachings and one's ability to attain full awakening, 3.) adherence to rules and observances, 4.) sensual desires, and 5.) ill-will.