Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
15. Ābhā Vagga

The Book of the Fours

Chapter XV: Splendour

Sutta 147

Dutiya Kāla Suttaṃ

Seasons (b)

[143]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these four seasons which,
if rightly developed,
rightly revolved,
gradually bring about the destruction of the āsavas.

What four?

Hearing Dhamma in due season,
discussion of Dhamma in due season,
calming in due season,
insight in due season.

These are the four.

Just as, monks, on a hilltop¹
when the sky-deva rains thick drops,
that water,
pouring down according to the slope of the ground,
fills up the clefts,
chasms
and gullies
of the hillside;
when these are filled,
they fill the pools;
when these are filled,
they fill the lakes;
when these are filled,
they fill the rivulets;
these being filled
fill up the great rivers;
the great rivers being filled
fill the sea,
the ocean; -
just so, monks, these four seasons,
if rightly developed,
rightly revolved,
gradually bring about
the destruction of the āsavas.'