5-49-1 Sammappadhāna | Samyutta

Chapter V

49 Sammappadhānasamyutta
Connected Discourses on the Right Strivings

I. Ganges Repetition Series

1 (1)–12 (12) The River Ganges—Eastward, Etc.

At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One said this:

Bhikkhus, there are these 4 right strivings. What 4?

1) Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

2) He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil 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 maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their non-decay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

- These are the 4 right strivings.

Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a Bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the 4 right strivings slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu develop and cultivate the 4 right strivings so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna?

1) Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

2) He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states….

3) He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states….

4) He generates desire for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their non-decay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

- These are the 4 right strivings.

It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu develops and cultivates the 4 right strivings so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

(The remaining Suttas of this vagga are to be similarly elaborated parallel to 45:92–102.)

6 about slanting to the east
And 6 about slanting to the ocean.
These 2 sixes make up twelve:
Thus the subchapter is recited.

II. DILIGENCE

13 (1)–22 (10) The Tathāgata, Etc.

(To be elaborated by way of the 4 right strivings parallel to 45:139–48.)

Tathāgata, footprint, roof peak,
Roots, hear2od, jasmine,
Monarch, the moon and sun,
Together with the cloth as tenth.

III. STRENUOUS DEEDS

23 (1)–34 (12) Strenuous, Etc.

Bhikkhus, just as whatever strenuous deeds are done, are all done based upon the earth, established upon the earth,

so too, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, a Bhikkhu develops and cultivates the 4 right strivings.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the 4 right strivings?

1) Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

2) He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states….

3)  He generates desire for the arising of unarisen whole- some states….

4) He generates desire for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their non-decay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

- These are the 4 right strivings.

It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the 4 right strivings.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:149–60.)

Strenuous, seeds, and Nāgas,
The tree, the pot, the spike,
The sky, and 2 on clouds,
The ship, guest house, and river.

IV. SEARCHES

35 (1)–44 (10) Searches, Etc.

Bhikkhus, there are these 3 searches. What 3?

1) The search for sensual pleasure,
2) the search for existence,
3) the search for a holy life.

- These are the 3 searches.

The 4 right strivings are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 3 searches, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

What 4?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu generates desire

for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states … for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states,

for their non-decay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

These 4 right strivings are to be developed for the direct knowledge of these 3 searches, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:161–70.)

Searches, discriminations, taints,
Kinds of existence, 3-fold suffering,
Barrenness, stains, and troubles,
Feelings, craving, and thirst.

V. FLOODS

45 (1)–53 (9) Floods, Etc.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:171–79.)

54 (10) Higher Fetters

Bhikkhus, there are these 5 higher fetters. What 5?

Lust for form, lust for the formless, conceit, restlessness, ignorance.

- These are the 5 higher fetters.

The 4 right strivings are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

What 4?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states … for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states,

for their non-decay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives.

These 4 right strivings are to be developed for the direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

Floods, bonds, kinds of clinging,
Knots, and underlying tendencies,
Cords of sensual pleasure, hindrances,
Aggregates, fetters lower and higher.