1.
The First Discourse on Slanting Towards the Ocean
97.
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
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, based upon seclusion, etc.
he develops right concentration, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release.
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.