What are
the 4 & very best Right Efforts?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these four right efforts. What four?
Here, Bhikkhus:
1
Preventing Avoidance: One generates desire for the non-emergence of yet
unarisen evil
disadvantageous mental states, one makes an effort, one arouses
energy, redirects mind, & strives enthusiastically to prevent bad from arising.
2 Overcoming
Elimination: One generates desire for the quick elimination of
already arisen bad detrimental states, one makes an effort, arouses energy,
redirects mind, and one strives enthusiastically for eradication of all wrong...
3 Initiating
Development: One generates desire for the arising of yet unarisen
advantageous
mental states, one makes an effort, one arouses much energy,
redirects the
mind, and strives enthusiastically for giving birth to good states...
4 Maintaining
Enhancement: One generates desire for the fixed maintenance
of already arisen
advantageous states, for their stable increase, expansion,
& final
fulfilment by development, one makes an effort, one arouses energy,
redirects the mind, and strives enthusiastically for sustaining all right & good...
These are the four right efforts!
Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards
the East,
even so does a Bhikkhu, who develops and cultivates these Four Right Efforts
slant, slope, slide, move, approach, glide and incline directly towards Nibbāna!
Defining
Comments:
Question: What are
these bad, evil, wrong and disadvantageous mental states?
Answer: All
mental
states motivated by, or mixed with diluted derivatives of
greed, hate and ignorance are bad, evil, wrong and disadvantageous
for all...
Question: What are these good, kind, right and advantageous mental
states?
Answer: All mental states motivated by, or mixed with diluted
derivatives of
generosity, goodwill and understanding are good, right &
advantageous for all...