1.
The First Slanting Eastward Discourse
91.
At Sāvatthī.
"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, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, 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.