'zeal', non-laxity, earnestness, diligence,
is considered as the foundation of all progress. Just as all the footprints of living beings are surpassed by
the footprint of the elephant, and the footprint of the elephant is considered
as the mightiest amongst them, just so have all the meritorious qualities zeal
as their foundation, and zeal is considered as the mightiest of these
qualities'' (A. X, 15).
Cf. the Chapter on Zeal (Appamāda Vagga) in Dhp., and the
Buddha's last exhortation: "Transient are all constructions. Strive zealously!" (appamādena
sampādetha: D. 16) - In the commentaries, it is often explained as the
presence (lit. 'non-absence') of mindfulness (satiyā avippavāsa).

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