1.
The First Slanting Eastward Discourse
127.
"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, slanting towards Nibbāna, sloping towards Nibbāna, inclining towards Nibbāna, etc.
he develops right concentration, slanting towards Nibbāna, sloping towards Nibbāna, inclining towards Nibbāna.
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.