The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, just
as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence
on feeding and cannot survive without food, so are the
7 Links to Awakening also sustained by feeding, they can also only exist in
dependence on feeding and they cannot survive without feeding...
And what is the feeding of the emergence of any yet unarisen
Energy and also feeding of the very completion by advance of any already
arisen Energy Link
to Awakening? There are these 3 elements of:
Initiative, Launching into effort and Endurance ... Frequently giving
careful and rational attention to them, is feeding the
arising
of any unarisen Energy Link to Awakening and also feeding of
the fulfillment of any already arisen Energy Link to Awakening...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the starving that obstructs the
emergence of any yet
unarisen Energy Link to Awakening & which also hinders any
already arisen
Energy Link from reaching any fulfillment by deliberate
development? There are these three elements of:
Initiative, Launching and Endurance ... Not giving
frequent,
careful and rational attention to them; not considering
them much and often; is the starving that prevents any
unarisen Energy Link
to Awakening from arising and also blocks any already arisen
Energy Link to
Awakening from reaching any complete fulfillment by training
& development.
Comments from the classical
commentaries: Enthusiastic and eager exertion
is the characteristic of the Energy Link to Awakening (Viriya-sambojjhanga). Effort producing
advantage is the goal of the Energy quality. Activity overcoming mental slack is
the manifestation
of this Energy Link to Awakening. While too lazy to do
what should be done simply ask yourself: What is missing here? Is it the element of mental initiative wishing to
get up that is missing here now, or is it the element of actual bodily launching into effort
that is missing here,
or is it the element of endurance, persistence, perseverance
and stamina that
is missing here now? This discrimination - in itself - has
the capacity to gradually
stir up and induce energy!
Further conditions helpful
for the emergence of the Energy are:
1: Reflection on the
long-term dangers of inactivity such as hell... 2:
Reviewing the benefits to be gained by energetic praxis. 3: Remembering that no journey can ever be
ended by a lazy one. 4: Giving credit to the good givers
of the alms-food received. 5: Honouring the Greatness of
the prior effort of the Master. 6: Honouring the
Greatness of the prior effort of the Lineage. 7: Removing laxity by perceiving light, change
of posture and open air. 8: Avoidance of slack, lazy, sluggish,
negligent and careless people. 9: Friendship with
enthusiastic, energetic and persistent people. 10:
Reviewing the
Four
Right Efforts often and systematically. 11: Commitment and resolute determination to
arouse more energy...
There is bodily
energy and there is mental energy! Both are a crucial for
all progress towards any advantageous state. Awakening is
Waking Up from sloth and daydreaming!
