Cattāri Brahmavihārā

206. In the southern districts, there is an ablution ceremony. At that time, there is much food and drink, edibles hard and soft, syrups and drinks, dancing, singing and music. This ceremony is a washing, but it is not a washing away. It is low, common vulgar, ignoble; it does not conduce to good, to turning away, to fading, to calming, to higher knowledge, or to Nirvana.
So, I will teach you a washing that does conduce to good, to turning away, to fading, to calming, to higher knowledge and to Nirvana. A washing that frees beings liable to rebirth from rebirth, that frees beings liable to decay from decay, that frees beings liable to die from death, that frees beings liable to sorrow, suffering, lamentation, woe, dejection and despair from those states.
And what is that washing? For one who has Perfect Understanding, Perfect Thought, Perfect Speech, Perfect Action, Perfect Livelihood, Perfect Effort, Perfect Mindfulness, Perfect Concentration, Perfect Knowledge and freedom – for that person, wrong understanding, wrong thought, wrong speech and so on are washed away. And those evil unskilled states that which arise due to them are washed away. Those good and skillful states that arise due to Perfect Understanding, Perfect Thought, Perfect Speech, Perfect Action, Perfect Livelihood, Perfect Effort, Perfect Mindfulness and Perfect Concentration – those states come to maturity.

Anguttara Nikaya V.215

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