At one time, many elder bhikkhus were residing in Benares in the deer park in Isipathana. Those elder bhikkhus were gathered and seated in the circular hall after the meal was over, on returning from the alms round, this was their topic of conversation: "Friends, what is the correct time to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development?"
A certain elder bhikkhu said, "Friends, when the advisroy bhikkhu had had his meal, returning from the alms round, having washed his feet is seated legs crossed, body straight and mindfulness established in front of him, that is the right time to see the advisory bhikkhu for mental development."
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said, "Friends, when the advisory bhikkhu had had his meal, returning from the alms round, having washed his feet is seated legs crossed, body straight and mindfulness established in front of him, that is not the right time to see the advisory bhikkhu for mental development. At that time, he is lazy on account of fullness and it is not the correct time to see the advisory bhikkhu for mental development. Friends, when the advisory bhikkhu for mental development gets up from his seclusion in the evening and sits in the shadow of the monastery, legs crossed, body straight and mindfulness established in front of him, that is the right time to approach him."
When this was said, another bhikkhu said, "Friends, when the advisory bhikkhu for mental development gets up from his seclusion in the evening and sits in the shadow of the monastery, legs crossed, body straight and mindfulness established in front of him, that is not the right time to approach him. At that time he attends to the sign of concentration for the daytime, therefore it is not the right time to approach the advisory bhikkhu for mental development. Friends, when the advisory bhikkhu for mental development sits cross legged, the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him in the last watch of the night, that is the right time to approach the advisory bhikkhu for mental development."
When this was said another bhikkhu said, "Friends, when the advisory bhikkhu for mental development sits cross legged, the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him in the last watch of the night, that is not the right time to approach the advisory bhikkhu for mental development. At that time his strength has decreased and is likely that he could recollect The Blessed One. Therefore it is not the right time to approach the advisory bhikkhu for mental development."
When this was said, venerable Mahakaccana said to the elder bhikkhus: "Friends, I have heard this from The Blessed One himself and The Blessed One acknowledges them.
"Here, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu abides with a mind overwhelmed with sensual greed, not knowing as it really should be, the escape from sensual greed, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: 'Friend, I abide with a mind overwhelmed with sensual greed and do not know the escape from the arisen sensual greed as it really should be. Good! If the venerable one teach me how to dispel sensual greed.' Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him, as to how he should dispel sensual greed. Bhikkhus, this is the first instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Again, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu abides with a mind overwhelmed with hate, not knowing as it really should be, the escape from arisen hate, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: 'Friend, I abide with a mind overwhelmed with hate and do not know the escape from arisen hate as it really should be. Good! If the venerable one teach me how to dispel hate.' Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him, as to how he should dispel hate. Bhikkhus, this is the second instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Again, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu abides with a mind overwhelmed with sloth and torpor, not knowing as it really should be, the escape from arisen sloth and torpor, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: 'Friend, I abide with a mind overwhelmed with sloth and torpor and do not know the escape from the arisen sloth and torpor as it really should be. Good! If the venerable one teach me how to dispel sloth and torpor.' Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him, as to how he should dispel sloth and torpor. Bhikkhus, this is the third instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Again, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu abides with a mind overwhelmed with restlessness and worry, not knowing as it really should be, the escape from arisen restlessness and worry, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: 'Friend, I abide with a mind overwhelmed with restlessness and worry and do not know the escape from the arisen restlessness and worry as it really should be. Good! If the venerable one teach me how to dispel restlessness and worry.' Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him, as to how he should dispel restlessness and worry. Bhikkhus, this is the fourth instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Again, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu abides with a mind overwhelmed with doubts, not knowing as it really should be, the escape from arisen doubts, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: "Friend, I abide with a mind overwhelmed with doubts and do not know the escape from arisen doubts as it really should be. Good! If the venerable one teach me how to dispel doubts.' Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him, as to how he should dispel doubts. Bhikkhus, this is the fifth instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Again, bhikkhus, when the bhikkhu does not know or see the sign to attend to, without an interval for the destruction of desires, he should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development and advice should be asked in this manner: "Friend, I do not know or see the sign to attend to, without an interval for the destruction of desires.' Good! If the venerable one teaches me for the destruction of desires. Then the bhikkhu who advises for mental development advises him for the destruction of desires. Bhikkhus, this is the sixth instance to approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development.
"Bhikkhus, these six are the instances on which the bhikkhu should approach the bhikkhu who advises for mental development."
See also: AN 6.27.