1.
The First Slanting Eastward Discourse
115.
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna.
And how, monks, does a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slant towards Nibbāna, slope towards Nibbāna, incline towards Nibbāna?
Here, monks, a monk develops right view, grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal, etc.
he develops right concentration, grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal.
Thus, monks, a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna."
The first.