2-6.
The Group of Five Discourses Beginning with the Second on Slanting Towards the Ocean
122-126.
"Just as, monks, the river Yamunā slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Aciravatī slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Sarabhū slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Mahī slants towards the ocean, slopes towards the ocean, inclines towards the ocean;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
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, grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal, etc.
he develops right concentration, grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless 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.