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5. Connected Discourses on Right Exertions 1. The Ganges Recital Chapter 1-12. The Dozen Discourses Beginning with the East 651-662. At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One said this: "These, bhikkhus, are four right exertions. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the arising of unarisen wholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their non-disappearance, for their increase, for their development, for their cultivation, for their perfection, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. These, bhikkhus, are the four right exertions." "Just as, bhikkhus, the river Ganges slopes towards the east, leans towards the east, inclines towards the east; even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu developing the four right exertions, cultivating the four right exertions, slopes towards Nibbāna, leans towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna. And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu developing the four right exertions, cultivating the four right exertions, slope towards Nibbāna, lean towards Nibbāna, incline towards Nibbāna? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the arising of unarisen wholesome states, generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. For the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their non-disappearance, for their increase, for their development... he generates desire for the fulfillment of development, he strives, he exerts effort, he applies his mind, he endeavors. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu developing the four right strivings, making much of the four right strivings, is inclined towards Nibbāna, tends towards Nibbāna, leans towards Nibbāna.” The Twelfth. (The Gaṅgāpeyyāla of the Saṃyutta on Right Strivings is to be elaborated according to Right Strivings). The Gaṅgāpeyyāla Chapter, the First. Its summary: Six inclined to the east, and six inclined to the ocean; These two sixes make twelve, therefore it is called a chapter. 2. The Chapter on Diligence (The Chapter on Diligence is to be elaborated according to Right Strivings). Its summary: The Tathāgata, the footing, the peak, the root, by essence, the rainy season; The king, the moon and sun, the garment is the tenth item. 3. The Chapter on Things to be Done with Strength 1-12. The Twelve Discourses beginning with Things to be Done with Strength 673-684. “Just as, bhikkhus, whatever tasks requiring strength are performed, all of them are done relying on the earth, established on the earth; even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu relying on virtue, established on virtue, develops the four right strivings, makes much of the four right strivings. And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu relying on virtue, established on virtue, develop the four right strivings, make much of the four right strivings? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, he strives, he exerts effort, he applies his mind, he endeavors… …he generates desire for the persistence, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and fulfillment of arisen wholesome states, he strives, he exerts effort, he applies his mind, he endeavors. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu relying on virtue, established on virtue, develops the four right strivings, makes much of the four right strivings.” (Thus the Chapter on Things to be Done with Strength is the same as (to be elaborated in terms of right exertions). The twelfth. The third chapter is on Things to be Done with Strength. Its summary – Strength, and seed, and nāga, tree, with pot, with ear of grain; and with sky, two clouds, boat, a visitor, a river. 4. The Chapter on Searches 1-10. The Decad of Discourses beginning with Searches 685-694. "Monks, there are these three searches. Which three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for existence, the search for the holy life – these, monks, are the three searches. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these three searches, these four right exertions are to be developed. Which four? Here, monks, a monk generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, grasps the mind, and exerts himself for the non-arising of unarisen unwholesome states… (and so on)… for the stability, non-confusion, increase, development, and perfection of arisen wholesome states. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these three searches, these four right exertions are to be developed." (To be elaborated). The tenth. The fourth chapter is on Searches. Its summary – Search, conceit, outflow, and existence, three kinds of suffering; fallow, and stain, and affliction, feeling, craving, and thirst. 5. The Chapter on Floods 1-10. The Decad of Discourses beginning with Floods 695-704. "Monks, there are these five higher fetters. Which five? Attachment to form, attachment to the formless, conceit, restlessness, ignorance – these, monks, are the five higher fetters. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these five higher fetters, these four right exertions are to be developed. Which four? Here, monks, a monk generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, grasps the mind, and exerts himself for the non-arising of unarisen unwholesome states… (and so on)… for the stability, non-confusion, increase, development, and perfection of arisen wholesome states. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these five higher fetters..." For direct knowledge, for full understanding, for utter destruction, for abandonment of the things that bind, of the fetters, these four right exertions should be developed. (To be elaborated). The Tenth. The Flood Chapter, the Fifth. Its Summary – Flood, Bondage, Clinging, Ties and Latent Tendencies; Sensual Pleasures, Hindrances, Aggregates, and Things that Bind. The Chapter on Right Exertions, the Fifth.