Linked Discourses on the Right Efforts
The Chapter of Abbreviated Texts on the Ganges
SN 49.1--12 Sloping East, Etc. Gaṅgāpeyyālavagga
At Sāvatthī.
There the Buddha said:
"Mendicants, there are these four right efforts. What four?
It's when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don't arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. These are the four right efforts.
The Ganges river slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. In the same way, a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four right efforts slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.
And how does a mendicant who develops the four right efforts slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment?
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don't arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.
That's how a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four right efforts slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment."
(Tell in full as in SN 45.92--102.)
Six on slanting to the east,
and six on slanting to the ocean;
these two sixes make twelve,
and that's how this chapter is recited.
The Chapter on Diligence
SN 49.13--22 Diligence Appamādavagga
(Tell in full as in SN 45.139--148.)
The Realized One, footprint, roof peak,
roots, heartwood, jasmine,
monarch, sun and moon,
and cloth is the tenth.
The Chapter on Hard Work
SN 49.23--34 Hard Work, Etc. Balakaraṇīyavagga
"Mendicants, all the hard work that gets done depends on the earth and is grounded on the earth. In the same way, a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.
How so? It's when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don't arise. ... so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.
That's how a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics."
(Tell in full as in SN 45.149--160.)
Hard work, seeds, and dragons,
a tree, a pot, and a spike,
the atmosphere, and two on clouds,
a ship, a guest house, and a river.
The Chapter on Searches
SN 49.35--44 Ten Discourses on Searches, Etc. Esanāvagga
"Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches.
The four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three searches. What four? It's when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don't arise. ... so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.
These four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three searches."
(Tell in full as in SN 45.161--170.)
Searches, discriminations, defilements,
states of existence, three kinds of suffering,
barrenness, stains, and troubles,
feelings, craving, and thirst.
The Chapter on Floods
SN 49.45--54 Floods, Etc. Oghavagga
"Mendicants, there are five higher fetters. What five? Desire for rebirth in the realm of luminous form, desire for rebirth in the formless realm, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. These are the five higher fetters.
The four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters. What four? It's when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don't arise. ... so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.
These four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters."
(Tell in full as in SN 45.171--179, with the above as the final discourse.)
Floods, yokes, grasping,
ties, and underlying tendencies,
kinds of sensual stimulation, hindrances,
aggregates, and fetters high and low.