“Bhikkhus, there are these four splendors. What four? The splendor of the moon, the splendor of the sun, the splendor of fire, and the splendor of wisdom. These are the four splendors. Of these four splendors, the splendor of wisdom is foremost.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four radiances. What four? The radiance of the moon, the radiance of the sun, the radiance of fire, and the radiance of wisdom. These are the four radiances. Of these four radiances, the radiance of wisdom is foremost.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four lights. What four? The light of the moon, the light of the sun, the light of fire, and the light of wisdom. These are the four lights. Of these four lights, the light of wisdom is foremost.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four lusters. What four? The luster of the moon, the luster of the sun, the luster of fire, and the luster of wisdom. These are the four lusters. Of these four lusters, the luster of wisdom is foremost.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four luminaries. What four? The moon is a luminary, the sun is a luminary, fire is a luminary, and wisdom is a luminary. These are the four luminaries. Of these four luminaries, wisdom is foremost.”
“There are, bhikkhus, these four times. What four? The time for listening to the Dhamma, the time for discussing the Dhamma, the time for serenity, and the time for insight. These are the four times.”
“Bhikkhus, these four times, rightly developed and coordinated, gradually culminate in the destruction of the taints. What four? The time for listening to the Dhamma, the time for discussing the Dhamma, the time for serenity, and the time for insight. These four times, rightly developed and coordinated, gradually culminate in the destruction of the taints.
“Just as, when it is raining and the rain pours down in thick droplets on a mountain top, the water flows down along the slope and fills the clefts, gullies, and creeks; these, becoming full, fill up the pools; these, becoming full, fill up the lakes; these, becoming full, fill up the streams; these, becoming full, fill up the rivers; and these, becoming full, fill up the great ocean; so too, these four times, rightly developed and coordinated, gradually culminate in the destruction of the taints.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of verbal misconduct. What four? False speech, divisive speech, harsh speech, and idle chatter. These are the four kinds of verbal misconduct.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of verbal good conduct. What four? Truthful speech, non-divisive speech, gentle speech, and judicious speech. These are the four kinds of verbal good conduct.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these four cores. What four? The core of virtuous behavior, the core of concentration, the core of wisdom, and the core of liberation. These are the four cores.”