6.
The Sixth Slanting Eastward Discourse
96.
"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 east, slope towards the east, incline 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, 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 sixth.