5-45-13 Appamādavaggo | Samyutta

XIII. Diligence

139 (1) The Tathāgata

(i) Based Upon Seclusion Version

At Sāvatthī.

Bhikkhus, whatever beings there are—whether those without feet or those with 2 feet or those with 4 feet or those with many feet,

whether consisting of form or formless, whether percipient, non-percipient, or neither percipient nor non-percipient

—the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is declared to be the chief among them.

So too, whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.

When a Bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu who is diligent develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops right view … right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

- It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu who is diligent develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.

 (ii) Removal of Lust Version

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops right view … right concentration,

which has as its final goal

the removal of lust,
the removal of hatred,
the removal of delusion….

(iii) The Deathless as Its Ground Version

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops right view … right concentration,

which has the Deathless as its ground,
the Deathless as its destination,
the Deathless as its final goal….

(iv) Slants towards Nibbāna Version

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops right view … right concentration,

which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna….

(Each of the following Suttas, §§140–148, is to be elaborated in accordance with the 4-fold method of §139.)

140 (2) The Footprint

Bhikkhus, just as the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant’s footprint is declared to be the chief among them, that is, with respect to size,

so too whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.

When a Bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path….

141 (3) The Roof Peak

Bhikkhus, just as all the rafters of a peaked house lean towards the roof peak, slope towards the roof peak, converge upon the roof peak, and the roof peak is declared to be their chief, so too …

142 (4) Roots

Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant roots, black orris is declared to be their chief, so too …

143 (5) Hear2od

Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant heartwoods, red sandalwood is declared to be their chief, so too …

144 (6) Jasmine

Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant flowers, the jasmine is declared to be their chief, so too …

145 (7) Monarch

Bhikkhus, just as all petty princes are the vassals of a wheel-turning monarch, and the wheel-turning monarch is declared to be their chief, so too …

146 (8) The Moon

Bhikkhus, just as the radiance of all the stars does not amount to a 1/16th part of the radiance of the moon, and the radiance of the moon is declared to be their chief, so too …

147 (9) The Sun

Bhikkhus, just as in the autumn, when the sky is clear and cloudless, the sun, ascending in the sky, dispels all darkness from space as it shines and beams and radiates, so too …

148 (10) The Cloth

Bhikkhus, just as, of all woven cloths, Kāsian cloth is declared to be their chief,

so too whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.

When a Bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu who is diligent develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops right viewright concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

- It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu who is diligent develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.