5.

The Connected Discourses on Right Strivings

1.

The Chapter of the Ganges Consecutive Repetitions

1-12.

The Twelve Discourses Beginning with the Eastern

651-662. At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One said this - "Monks, there are these four right strivings. Which four? Here, monks, a monk generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the presence, non-decay, increase, expansion, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. These, monks, are the four right strivings."

"Just as, monks, the river Ganges slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east; just so, monks, a monk developing the four right strivings, cultivating the four right strivings, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna. And how, monks, does a monk developing the four right strivings, cultivating the four right strivings, slant towards Nibbāna, slope towards Nibbāna, incline towards Nibbāna? Here, monks, a monk generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. He generates desire for the presence, non-decay, increase, expansion, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. Thus, monks, a monk developing the four right strivings, cultivating the four right strivings, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna." The twelfth.

The Ganges Repetition Chapter is the first.

Its summary:

2.

The Chapter on Diligence

Its summary:

3.

The Chapter on Strenuous Deeds

1-12.

The Twelve Discourses Beginning with Strenuous Deeds

673-684. "Just as, monks, whatever activities requiring strength are done, all of them are done in dependence on earth, established upon earth, thus these activities requiring strength are done; just so, monks, a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develops the four right strivings, cultivates the four right strivings. And how, monks, does a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develop the four right strivings, cultivate the four right strivings? Here, monks, a monk generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives, etc. he generates desire for the presence, non-decay, increase, expansion, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. Thus, monks, a monk, in dependence on morality, established upon morality, develops the four right strivings, cultivates the four right strivings." The twelfth.

The Power-Requiring Chapter is the third.

Its summary:

4.

The Chapter on Searches

1-10.

The Ten Discourses Beginning with Searches

685-694. "There are these three searches, monks. Which three? Sensual seeking, seeking existence, seeking the holy life - these, monks, are the three searches. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, utter elimination, and abandoning of these three searches, the four right strivings are to be developed. Which four? Here, monks, a monk for unarisen... etc. he generates desire for the presence, non-decay, increase, expansion, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, utter elimination, and abandoning of these three searches, these four right strivings are to be developed." The tenth.

The Search Chapter is the fourth.

Its summary:

5.

The Chapter on the Mental Floods

1-10.

The Decad of Discourses Beginning with the Mental Floods

695-704. "There are, monks, these five higher mental fetters. Which five? Lust for fine-material existence, lust for immaterial existence, conceit, restlessness, ignorance - these, monks, are the five higher mental fetters. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, utter elimination, and abandoning of these five higher mental fetters, the four right strivings are to be developed. Which four? Here, monks, a monk for unarisen... etc. he generates desire for the presence, non-decay, increase, expansion, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome mental states, he strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, utter elimination, and abandoning of these five higher mental fetters, these four right strivings are to be developed." The tenth.

The Flood Chapter is the fifth.

Its summary:

The Connected Discourses on the Right Strivings is the fifth.