an.4.13 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)
Striving
“Bhikkhus, there are these four right strivings. What four? (1) Here, a bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen bad unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. (2) He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen bad unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. (3) He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. (4) He generates desire for the persistence of arisen wholesome states, for their non-decline, increase, expansion, and fulfillment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. These are the four right strivings.”
Those who strive rightly
overcome the realm of Māra;
they are unattached,
gone beyond fear of birth and death.
They are contented and unstirred,
having conquered Māra and his mount;
those happy ones have overcome
all Namuci’s armies.
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Effort
“Mendicants, there are these four right efforts.
What four?
A mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise.
They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development.
These are the four right efforts.
By rightly striving, they’ve crushed Māra’s sovereignty;
unattached, they’ve gone beyond the danger of birth and death.
Contented and unstirred, they’ve vanquished Māra and his mount;
now they’ve gone beyond all Namuci’s forces, they’re happy.”
