“Bhikkhus, for direct knowledge of lust, four things are to be developed. 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 … (3) … for the arising of unarisen wholesome states … (4) … for the maintenance 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. For direct knowledge of lust, these four things are to be developed.”
an.4.275 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)
Four Right Strivings
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Right Efforts
“For insight into greed, four things should be developed.What four?
Firstly, a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise.
…so that unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up … so that skillful qualities arise … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development.
For insight into greed, these four things should be developed.”