The Chapter on Right Efforts

AN 9.73 Weaknesses in Training and Effort Sikkhasutta

"Mendicants, there are these five weaknesses when you’re training. What five? Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and consuming beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. These are the five weaknesses when you’re training.

To give up these five weaknesses in your training you should develop the four right efforts. What four? It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. To give up these five weaknesses in your training you should develop these four right efforts."

VIII. Phẩm Chánh Cần

(I-X) (73 - 81) Bốn Chánh Cần

(Giống như phẩm Bốn niệm xứ trước, chi khác ở đây Bốn chánh cần thế cho Bốn niệm xứ ở trên, và Bốn chánh cần được diễn tả như sau).

Thế nào là bốn?

− Ở đây, này các Tỷ-kheo, với mục đích khiến cho các ác, bất thiện pháp từ trước chưa sanh không cho sanh khởi, khởi lên ý muốn cố gắng, tinh tấn, sách tâm, trì tâm. Với mục đích khiến cho các ác, bất thiện pháp đã sanh ra được trừ diệt khởi lên ý muốn cố gắng… trì tâm. Với mục đích khiến cho các thiện pháp đã được sanh có thể duy trì, không có mù mờ, được tăng trưởng, được quảng đại, được tu tập, được viên mãn, khởi lên ý muốn cố gắng, tinh tấn, sách tâm, trì tâm.

AN 9.74–81 Hindrances, Etc. Nīvaraṇasuttādi

::: small (Tell in full as in the chapter on mindfulness meditation.) :::

AN 9.82 Shackles of the Heart Cetasovinibandhasutta

"Mendicants, there are these five shackles of the heart. What five? Firstly, a mendicant isn’t free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures. … These are the five shackles of the heart.

To give up these five shackles of the heart you should develop the four right efforts. What four? It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. … so that unskillful qualities are given up … so that skillful qualities arise … They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. To give up these five shackles of the hearts you should develop these four right efforts."