2-6.
The Group of Five Discourses Beginning with the Second on Slanting Towards the Ocean
110.
"Just as, monks, the river Yamunā slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
The second.
111.
"Just as, monks, the river Aciravatī slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
The third.
112.
"Just as, monks, the river Sarabhū slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
The fourth.
113.
"Just as, monks, the river Mahī slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
The fifth.
114.
"Just as, monks, whatever great rivers there are, as follows -
the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, the Mahī, all of them slant towards the ocean, slope towards the ocean, incline 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, with the removal of lust as its final goal, with the removal of hate as its final goal, with the removal of delusion as its final goal, etc.
he develops right concentration, with the removal of lust as its final goal, with the removal of hate as its final goal, with the removal of delusion 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 sixth.