Vb 8Analysis of Right Striving

– The Book of Analysis

8. Analysis of Right Striving

1. Analysis According to the Discourses

PTS cs 390 BA 271 PTS vp 208 The four right strivings—Herein a bhikkhu engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen.

PTS cs 391 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen? Therein what are evil bad states that have not arisen? The three bad roots (i.e.,) greed, hatred, dullness and the corruptions occurring therewith; the aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness associated therewith; the bodily action, verbal action, mental action generated thereby. These are called evil bad states that have not arisen. Thus he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of these evil bad states that have not arisen.

PTS cs 392 “Engenders wish” means: Therein what is wish ? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish. This wish he engenders, engenders well, causes to uprise, causes to uprise well, causes to exist, causes to exist fully. Therefore this is called “engenders wish”.

PTS cs 393 “Makes effort” means: Therein what is effort ? That which BA 272 | is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort. PTS vp 209 This is called effort. Of this effort he is possessed, well possessed, attained, well attained, endowed, well endowed, furnished. Therefore this is called “makes effort”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 394 “Arouses energy” means: Therein what is energy ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort. This is called energy. This energy he arouses, arouses well, pursues, develops, repeats. Therefore this is called “arouses energy”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 395 “Exerts the mind” means: Therein what is mind (consciousness)? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called mind. This mind he exerts, exerts well, supports, supports repeatedly. Therefore this is called “exerts the mind”.

– See paragraph 184 .

PTS cs 396 “Strives” means: Therein what is striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called striving. Of this striving he is possessed, 2 furnished. Therefore this is called “strives”.

– See paragraph 220 .

– 2 See paragraph 357 .

PTS cs 397 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen? Therein what are evil bad states that have arisen? The three bad roots (i.e.,) greed, hatred, dullness and the corruptions occurring therewith; the aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness associated therewith; the bodily action, verbal action, mental action generated thereby. These are called evil bad states that have arisen. Thus he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of these evil bad states that have arisen.

PTS cs 398 “Engenders wish” means: Therein what is wish ? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. BA 273 | This is called wish. This wish he engenders, engenders well, causes to uprise, causes to uprise well, causes to exist, causes to exist fully. Therefore this is called “engenders wish”.

PTS cs 399 “Makes effort” means: Therein what is effort ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called effort. Of this effort he is possessed, 2 furnished. Therefore this is called “makes effort”.

– See paragraph 220 .

– 2 See paragraph 357 .

PTS cs 400 “Arouses energy” means: Therein what is energy ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort. This is called energy. This energy he arouses, arouses well, pursues, develops, repeats. Therefore this is called “arouses energy”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 401 “Exerts the mind” means: Therein what is mind ? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called mind. This mind he exerts, exerts well, supports, supports repeatedly.

Therefore this is called “exerts the mind”.

– See paragraph 184 .

PTS cs 402 “Strives” means: Therein what is striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called striving. Of this striving he is possessed, 2 furnished. Therefore this is called “strives”.

– See paragraph 220 .

– 2 See paragraph 357 .

PTS cs 403 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the arising of good states that have not arisen? PTS vp 210 Therein what are good states that have not arisen? The three good roots (i.e.,) absence of greed, absence of hatred, absence of dullness; the aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness associated therewith; the bodily action, verbal action, mental action generated thereby. These are called good states that have not arisen. Thus he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of these good states that have not arisen.

PTS cs 404 BA 274 “Engenders wish” means: “Makes effort” means: 2 “Arouses energy” means: 3 “Exerts the mind” means: 4 “Strives” means: Therein what is striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, 5 right effort. This is called striving. Of this striving he is possessed, 6 furnished. Therefore this is called “strives”.

– See paragraph 392 .

– 2 See paragraph 393 .

– 3 See paragraph 394 .

– 4 See paragraph 395 .

– 5 See paragraph 220 .

– 6 See paragraph 357 .

PTS cs 405 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen? Therein what are good states that have arisen? The three good roots (i.e.,) absence of greed, absence of hatred, absence of dullness; the aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness associated therewith; the bodily action, verbal action, mental action generated thereby.

These are called good states that have arisen. Thus he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of these good states that have arisen.

PTS cs 406 “For the stabilizing” means: That which is stabilizing is collocation; that which is collocation is increase; that which is increase is maturity; that which is maturity is development; that which is development is completion.

PTS cs 407 “Engenders wish” means: “Makes effort” means: 2 “Arouses energy” means: 3 “Exerts the mind” means: 4 “Strives” means: Therein what is striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, 5 right effort. This is called striving. Of this striving he is possessed, 6 furnished. Therefore this is called “strives”.

– See paragraph 392 .

– 2 See paragraph 393 .

– 3 See paragraph 394 .

– 4 See paragraph 395 .

– 5 See paragraph 220 .

– 6 See paragraph 357 .

(Here Ends) Analysis According to the Discourses
PTS vp 211

2. Analysis According to Abhidhamma

PTS cs 408 BA 275 The four right strivings—Herein a bhikkhu engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen.

PTS cs 409 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen.

– See paragraph 205 .

PTS cs 410 “Engenders wish” means: Therein what is wish ? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish. This wish he engenders, engenders well, causes to uprise, causes to uprise well, causes to exist, causes to exist fully. Therefore this is called “engenders wish”.

PTS cs 411 “Makes effort” means: Therein what is effort ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called effort. Of this effort he is possessed, well possessed, attained, well attained, endowed, well endowed, furnished. Therefore this is called “makes effort”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 412 BA 276 “Arouses energy” means: Therein what is energy ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. PTS vp 212 This is called energy. This energy he arouses, arouses well, pursues, develops, repeats. Therefore this is called “arouses energy”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 413 “Exerts the mind” means: Therein what is mind (consciousness)? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called mind. This mind he exerts, exerts well, supports, supports repeatedly. Therefore this is called “exerts the mind”.

– See paragraph 184 .

PTS cs 414 “Strives” means: Therein what is right striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right striving. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right striving.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 415 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen.

– See paragraph 205 .

PTS cs 416 “Engenders wish ” means: “Makes effort” means: 2 “Arouses energy” means: 3 “Exerts the mind” means: 4 “Strives” means: Therein what is right striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* 5 right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. BA 277 | This is called right striving. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right striving.

– See paragraph 410 .

– 2 See paragraph 411 .

– 3 See paragraph 412 .

– 4 See paragraph 413 .

– 5 See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 417 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the arising of good states that have not arisen? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of good states that have not arisen. PTS vp 213

– See paragraph 205 .

PTS cs 418 “Engenders wish ” means: “Makes effort” means: 2 “Arouses energy” means: 3 “Exerts the mind” means: 4 “Strives” means: Therein what is right striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* 5 right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right striving. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right striving.

– See paragraph 410 .

– 2 See paragraph 411 .

– 3 See paragraph 412 .

– 4 See paragraph 413 .

– 5 See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 419 And how does a bhikkhu engender wish, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired;

at that time he engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen.

– See paragraph 205 .

PTS cs 420 BA 278 “For the stabilizing” means: That which is stabilizing is collocation; that which is collocation is increase; that which is increase is maturity; that which is maturity is development; that which is development is completion.

PTS cs 421 “Engenders wish” means: Therein what is wish ? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish. This wish he engenders, engenders well, causes to uprise, causes to uprise well, causes to exist, causes to exist fully. Therefore this is called “engenders wish”.

PTS cs 422 “Makes effort” means: Therein what is effort ? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called effort. Of this effort he is possessed, 2 furnished. Therefore this is called “makes effort”.

– See paragraph 220 .

– 2 See paragraph 357 .

PTS cs 423 “Arouses energy” means: Therein what is energy ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called energy. This energy he arouses, arouses well, PTS vp 214 pursues, develops, repeats. Therefore this is called “arouses energy”.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 424 “Exerts the mind” means: Therein what is mind ? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called mind. This mind he exerts, exerts well, supports, supports repeatedly.

Therefore this is called “exerts the mind”.

– See paragraph 184 .

PTS cs 425 “Strives” means: Therein what is right striving ? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right striving. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right striving.

– See paragraph 220 .

PTS cs 426 BA 279 Therein what is right striving ? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is the arousing of mental energy, 2 right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right striving. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right striving.

– See paragraph 205 .

– 2 See paragraph 220 .

(Here Ends) Analysis According to Abhidhamma

3. Interrogation

PTS cs 427 The four right strivings—Herein a bhikkhu engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen.

– Complete as first example.

PTS cs 428 Of the four right strivings how many are good; how many bad; how many neither-good-nor-bad.* How many with cause of bewailing; how many without cause of bewailing?

– Remaining appropriate triplets and couplets.

1. The Triplets

PTS cs 429 (The four right strivings) Are only good. Sometimes are associated with pleasant feeling; sometimes are associated with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. Are productive of resultant.

PTS vp 215 Are not grasped (by craving and false view), are not objects of the attachments. Are not corrupt, are not objects of the corruptions. Sometimes are accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without initial BA 280 | application, sustained application only; sometimes are without initial application, without sustained application.

Sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are accompanied by indifference. Are not to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths.

Are dispersive (of continuing rebirth and death). Are of the seven supramundane stages. Are immeasurable.

Have immeasurable object. Are superior. Are right (states with) fixed (resultant) time.

Do not have path as their object; have path as their cause; sometimes have path as their dominating factor; sometimes should not be said to have, path as their dominating factor. Sometimes are risen; sometimes are not risen; should not be said to be, bound to arise. Sometimes are past; sometimes are future; sometimes are present.

Should not be said to have either, past object; future object or present object. Sometimes are internal; sometimes are external; sometimes are both internal and external. Have external object.

Are not visible, are not impingent.

2. The Couplets

PTS cs 430 (The four right strivings) Are not roots. Are not accompanied by roots. Are associated with roots.

Should not be said to be, roots also accompanied by roots; (they) are accompanied by roots but are not roots. Should not be said to be, roots also associated with roots; (they) are associated with roots but are not roots. Are not roots, are accompanied by roots.

Are with cause. Are conditioned. Are not visible.

Are not impingent. Are not material. Are supramundane.

Are cognizable by one way; are not cognizable by another way. Are not defilements. Are not objects of the defilements.

Are not associated with the defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also objects of the defilements or objects of the defilements but are not defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also associated with the defilements or associated with the defilements but are not defilements.

Are not associated with the defilements, are not objects of the defilements. Are not fetters. Are not ties. Are not floods. Are not bonds. Are not hindrances. Are not perversions. Have objects. Are not consciousness.

Are mental concomitants. Are associated with consciousness. Are conjoined with consciousness.

Are generated BA 281 | by consciousness. Are co-existent with consciousness. Accompany consciousness.

Are conjoined with, generated by consciousness. Are conjoined with, generated by, co-existent with consciousness. Are conjoined with, generated by, accompany consciousness.

Are external. Are not derived. Are not grasped.

Are not attachments. Are not corruptions. Are not to be abandoned by the first path. Are not to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned by the first path.

Have no roots to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Sometimes are accompanied by initial application; sometimes are without initial application. Sometimes are accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without sustained application.

Sometimes are with zest; sometimes are without zest. Sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are not accompanied by zest. Sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are not accompanied by pleasure.

Sometimes are accompanied by indifference; sometimes are not accompanied by indifference. Are not characteristic of the plane of desire. Are not characteristic of the plane of form.

Are not characteristic of the formless plane. Are not included (i.e. are supramundane). Tend to release.

Are of fixed (resultant time). Are not surpassable. Are without cause of bewailing.

– Complete as for defilements in this paragraph.

(Here Ends) Interrogation

Analysis of Right Striving is Ended

The Book of Analysis , an English translation of the Pali Abhidhamma Vibhaṅga. Translated by Paṭhamkyaw Ashin Thiṭṭila (Seiṭṭhila) . Published by Pali Text Society, 1969 .

This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Manfred Wierich and Ven. Vimala and proofread by Ariya Baumann . Some changes were introduced:

– Internal and external links were added, so that readers can easily click the numerous references.

– Some abbreviations were expanded.

– Obvious oversights and errors were corrected, all of them minor.

The pagination of the original PTS edition can be found on the margins. Unless the page break begins a new paragraph, a vertical bar indicates the beginning of the new page.