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Analysis of Right Endeavor Discourse Section 390. Four right endeavors – here, a monk, for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states, generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives; for the abandonment of arisen evil, unwholesome states, generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives; for the arising of unarisen wholesome states, generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives; for the continuance, non-disappearance, increase, abundance, development, perfection of arisen wholesome states, generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives. 391. And how, monk, for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states, does he generate desire, endeavor, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive? Therein, which are the unarisen evil, unwholesome states? The three unwholesome roots – greed, hatred, delusion. And defilements of the same nature. The aggregate of feeling associated with them, the aggregate of perception, the aggregate of mental formations, the aggregate of consciousness, bodily action, verbal action, mental action arisen from them – these are called “unarisen evil, unwholesome states.” Thus, for the non-arising of these unarisen evil, unwholesome states, he generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives. 392. “He generates desire” means. Therein, which is desire? That desire, desire-nature, wish to do, wholesome desire for Dhamma – this is called “desire.” This desire he generates, produces, raises up, causes to arise, brings forth, fully brings forth. Therefore it is said: “He generates desire.” 393. “He endeavors” means. Therein, which is endeavor? That mental arousal of energy… …right endeavor – this is called “endeavor.” By this He is endowed with effort, fully endowed, approached, fully approached, arisen, accomplished, possessed. Therefore, he is called "one who makes effort." 394. He arouses energy. What is energy here? That mental arousal of energy... right effort – this is called "energy." He arouses this energy, fully arouses it, cultivates it, develops it, makes it abundant. Therefore, he is called "one who arouses energy." 395. He grasps the mind. What is the mind here? That mind, thought, mentality... the element of mind-consciousness related to that – this is called "mind." He grasps this mind, fully grasps it, supports it, fully supports it. Therefore, he is called "one who grasps the mind." 396. He strives. What is striving here? That mental arousal of energy... right effort – this is called "striving." He is endowed with this striving... possessed. Therefore, he is called "one who strives." 397. And how, bhikkhu, does he generate desire, make effort, arouse energy, grasp the mind, and strive for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states? What are the arisen evil unwholesome states here? The three roots of unwholesomeness – greed, hatred, delusion. And defilements having the same basis. The feeling aggregate, perception aggregate, volitional formations aggregate, consciousness aggregate associated with them, and bodily action, verbal action, mental action arising from them – these are called "arisen evil unwholesome states." Thus, for the abandoning of these arisen evil unwholesome states, he generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, grasps the mind, and strives. 398. He generates desire. What is desire here? That desire, wishing, wanting to do, wholesome desire for the Dhamma – this is called "desire." He generates this desire, fully generates it, raises it, fully raises it, produces it, fully produces it. Therefore, he is called "one who generates desire." 399. He makes effort. What is effort here? That mental... The mental starting of energy, endeavor, exertion, strength, firmness, steadfastness, not abandoning the desire, not abandoning the burden, constant application, not giving up, not being disheartened, right exertion – this is called "exertion". He is endowed with this exertion, possessed of it, fully equipped with it. Therefore, he is called "one who exerts". 400. He starts energy, thus it is said. What is energy here? The mental starting of energy, endeavor, exertion, strength, firmness, steadfastness, not abandoning the desire, not abandoning the burden, constant application, not giving up, not being disheartened, right exertion – this is called "energy". He starts this energy, fully starts it, cultivates it, develops it, makes it abundant. Therefore, he is called "one who starts energy". 401. He uplifts the mind, thus it is said. What is mind here? That which is mind, thought, mentality, heart, core, consciousness, the mind-consciousness element, the mind-consciousness element pertaining thereto – this is called "mind". He uplifts this mind, fully uplifts it, supports it, firmly supports it. Therefore, he is called "one who uplifts the mind". 402. He endeavors, thus it is said. What is endeavor here? The mental starting of energy, endeavor, exertion, strength, firmness, steadfastness, not abandoning the desire, not abandoning the burden, constant application, not giving up, not being disheartened, right exertion – this is called "endeavor". He is endowed with this endeavor, possessed of it, fully equipped with it. Therefore, he is called "one who endeavors". 403. And how, monk, does he generate desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states, exert, start energy, uplift the mind, endeavor? What are the unarisen wholesome states here? The three roots of wholesome action: non-greed, non-hatred, non-delusion. The feeling aggregate associated with them, the perception aggregate, the formations aggregate, the consciousness aggregate. Bodily action arisen from them, verbal action, mental action – these are called "unarisen wholesome states". Thus, for the arising of these unarisen wholesome states, he generates desire, exerts, starts energy, uplifts the mind, endeavors. 404. He generates desire, thus it is said, he exerts, thus it is said, he starts energy, thus it is said, he uplifts the mind, thus it is said, he endeavors, thus it is said. What is endeavor here? The mental starting of energy, endeavor, exertion, strength, firmness, steadfastness, not abandoning the desire, not abandoning the burden, constant application, not giving up, not being disheartened, right exertion – this is called "endeavor". He is endowed with this endeavor, possessed of it, fully equipped with it. Therefore, he is called "one who endeavors". 405. And how, monk, for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for the stability, for the non-disappearance, for the increase, for the growth, for the development, for the perfection of what? Does one generate desire, make effort, arouse energy, exert the mind, strive? Therein, what are the arisen wholesome states? The three roots of wholesome action: non-greed, non-hatred, non-delusion. The feeling aggregate associated with them, the perception aggregate, the formations aggregate, the consciousness aggregate, the bodily action arisen from them, the verbal action, the mental action – these are called "arisen wholesome states". Thus, for the stability, for the non-disappearance, for the increase, for the growth, for the development, for the perfection of these arisen wholesome states, one generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives. 406. "For stability" means: What is stability, that is non-disappearance. What is non-disappearance, that is increase. What is increase, that is growth. What is growth, that is development. What is development, that is perfection. 407. "Generates desire" and so on... "makes effort" and so on... "arouses energy" and so on... "exerts the mind" and so on... "strives." Therein, what is striving? That mental arousal of energy, and so on... right effort – this is called "striving." One is endowed with this striving, and so on... possessed of it. Therefore, it is said, "one strives." Suttanta Exposition. 2. Abhidhamma Exposition 408. The four right strivings: Here, a monk generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states. He generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of arisen evil, unwholesome states. He generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of unarisen wholesome states. He generates desire, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stability, for the non-disappearance, for the increase, for the growth, for the development, for the perfection of arisen wholesome states. 409. How And what, monk, for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, does he generate desire, strive, arouse energy, exert the mind, and endeavor? Here, monk, at what time he develops supramundane jhāna, leading out, going to reduction (of defilements), for the abandoning of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage (of awakening), quite secluded from sensual pleasures... he enters and dwells in the first jhāna, with painful practice and slow direct knowledge, at that time, for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, he generates desire, strives, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and endeavors. 410. "Generates desire," it is said. What is desire there? That desire, the state of desiring, the wish to do, wholesome desire for Dhamma – this is called "desire." He generates this desire, produces it, raises it, brings it forth, brings it into being, causes it to arise. Therefore, it is said, "he generates desire." 411. "Strives," it is said. What is striving there? That mental arousal of energy... right effort, the energy factor of awakening, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "striving." He is endowed with this striving, fully endowed, approached, fully approached, arisen, accomplished, possessed.