Dutiyakāla Sutta

“Should these four times be

properly developed

in harmony,

progressively,

they will lead to the stilling of the mind. [1]

What are they?

There is

(1) The right time for listening to the Dhamma,

(2) The right time for discussing the Dhamma,

(3) The right time for tranquility,

(4) The right time for discernment.

These are the four times.

Just as when it pours down heavily on the mountain tops,

That water rushes down, filling the main valleys and the gorges;

The main valleys and gorges being full, they fill the streams;

The streams being full, they fill the creeks;

The creeks being full, they fill the rivers;

The rivers being full, they fill the estuaries;

The estuaries being full, they fill the great ocean.

This is how, monks, these four times

when properly developed

in harmony,

            progressively lead to the stilling of the mind.”

[1] sammā bhāviyamānā sammā anuparivattiyamānā anupubbena āsavānaṁ khayaṁ pāpenti.