In so many ways, this distillation of Right Effort is my crib sheet for the practice. Maybe it’s laziness, maybe it’s a sheer lack of wisdom but I often return to the formula for Samma Vayamo as my yard stick of the practice. I don’t wish to say too much today as I would rather let the words of the Lord Buddha resonate in our hearts. May we find true happiness through the Dhamma.
162. There are these four perfect efforts. What four? Concerning this, one generates desire to prevent the arising of evil unprofitable states that have not yet arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
One generates desire for the abandoning of evil unprofitable states that have already arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
One generates desire for the arising of profitable states that have not yet arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
And one generates desire for the persisting, the non-confusion, the further development, the increase, cultivation and fulfilment of profitable states that have already arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
Digha Nikaya II.313
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