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Compiled by Jayaram V
In Buddhism right effort is closely linked with karma and its
overall effect on the birth and rebirth of individual beings. The Buddha identified
four types of right effort, the effort to avoid wrong actions, the effort to
overcome evil actions, the effort to develop good conduct conducive to the
practice of Dhamma and the effort to maintain the the perfection that
is already cultivated on the Eightfold path. The following are a few
excerpts on right effort from the teachings of the Buddha.
What is Right Effort?
"And what, monks, is right effort?
[i] "There is the case where a monk generates desire, endeavors, activates
persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the non-arising of
evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet arisen.
[ii] "He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts
his intent for the sake of the abandonment of evil, unskillful qualities that
have arisen.
[iii] "He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts
his intent for the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet
arisen.
[iv] "He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts
his intent for the maintenance, non-confusion, increase, plenitude, development,
& culmination of skillful qualities that have arisen: This, monks, is called
right effort." — SN XLV.8
Right Effort consists of the Four Great Efforts: the effort to avoid, to overcome,
to develop, and to maintain.
I. The effort to avoid
It consists of avoiding the arising of evil and worthless things, and such things
that are yet to come. Such an effort involves striving, putting forth ones energy,
straining ones mind and struggling. Thus when a disciples comes into contact with
an object through his senses, he neither clings to its whole nor to its parts. He
persistently pushes away that through which evil and worthless things, greed and
sorrow arise when his senses are unguarded.
He keeps a strict watch on his senses and restrains them. With such a control
over his senses, he experiences inward joy which no evil can penetrate. Possessed
of this noble "Control over the Senses," he experiences inwardly a feeling of joy,
into which no evil thing can enter. This is called the effort to avoid.
II. The effort to Overcome
It consists of inciting the mind to overcome evil and sinful things that are
already there. In this effort he strives, puts forth his energy, strains his mind
and struggles. He expels all thoughts of sensual lust, feelings of ill-will, grief,
or any other evil or sinful states that may have arisen. By his efforts he abandons
them, dispels them, destroys them and makes them disappear.
The Five Methods of Expelling Evil Thoughts
How he drives away sinful thoughts and makes them disappear during the effort
to overcome is described below.
1. If, a certain object is responsible for some evil or sinful thought connected
with greed, anger and delusion, then the disciple by means of this object should
gain another wholesome object.
2. He should reflect upon such thoughts as unwholesome, blamable or painful.
3. He should not pay any attention to such thoughts.
4. He should consider the compound nature of these thoughts.
5. With clenched teeth and pressing tongue against the gums, he should mentally
restrain, suppress and root out such thoughts.
When the disciple practices these five methods, the evil and demeritorious thoughts
of greed, anger and delusion will dissolve and disappear. The mind would turn inwardly
and become settled and calm, composed and concentrated.
III. The effort to Develop.
In this effort the disciple strives to create in himself meritorious conditions
that have not yet arisen. He strives, spends his energy, strains his mind and struggle
to achieve this. Through solitude, detachment, extinction of all desires and deliverance
from birth and rebirth, he develops the "Elements of Enlightenment" namely, Attentiveness,
an Enquiry into the Law, Energy, Bliss, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity.
This is known as the effort to develop.
IV. The effort to Maintain
In this the disciple strives his will to maintain the meritorious conditions
that are already in existence, so that they would not disappear but would grow,
mature and reach the stage of full perfection. To achieve this he strives, spends
his energy, strains his mind and struggles.
Right Effort
Right Effort consists of the Four Great Efforts: the effort to avoid, to overcome,
to develop, and to maintain.
I. The effort to avoid
It consists of avoiding the arising of evil and worthless things, and such things
that are yet to come. Such an effort involves striving, putting forth ones energy,
straining ones mind and struggling. Thus when a disciples comes into contact with
an object through his senses, he neither clings to its whole nor to its parts. He
persistently pushes away that through which evil and worthless things, greed and
sorrow arise when his senses are unguarded.
He keeps a strict watch on his senses and restrains them. With such a control
over his senses, he experiences inward joy which no evil can penetrate. Possessed
of this noble "Control over the Senses," he experiences inwardly a feeling of joy,
into which no evil thing can enter. This is called the effort to avoid.
II. The effort to Overcome
It consists of inciting the mind to overcome evil and sinful things that are
already there. In this effort he strives, puts forth his energy, strains his mind
and struggles. He expels all thoughts of sensual lust, feelings of ill-will, grief,
or any other evil or sinful states that may have arisen. By his efforts he abandons
them, dispels them, destroys them and makes them disappear.
The Five Methods of Expelling Evil Thoughts:
How he drives away sinful thoughts and makes them disappear during the effort
to overcome is described below.
1. If, a certain object is responsible for some evil or sinful thought connected
with greed, anger and delusion, then the disciple by means of this object should
gain another wholesome object.
2. He should reflect upon such thoughts as unwholesome, blamable or painful.
3. He should not pay any attention to such thoughts.
4. He should consider the compound nature of these thoughts.
5. With clenched teeth and pressing tongue against the gums, he should mentally
restrain, suppress and root out such thoughts.
When the disciple practices these five methods, the evil and demeritorious thoughts
of greed, anger and delusion will dissolve and disappear. The mind would turn inwardly
and become settled and calm, composed and concentrated.
III. The effort to Develop.
In this effort the disciple strives to create in himself meritorious conditions
that have not yet arisen. He strives, spends his energy, strains his mind and struggle
to achieve this. Through solitude, detachment, extinction of all desires and deliverance
from birth and rebirth, he develops the "Elements of Enlightenment" namely, Attentiveness,
an Enquiry into the Law, Energy, Bliss, Tranquility, Concentration and Equanimity.
This is known as the effort to develop.
IV. The effort to Maintain
In this the disciple strives his will to maintain the meritorious conditions
that are already in existence, so that they would not disappear but would grow,
mature and reach the stage of full perfection. To achieve this he strives, spends
his energy, strains his mind and struggles.
Suggested Further Reading
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