Right Effort

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

Right effort is the sixth constituent of the Eightfold Path. The Buddha explained it as consisting of:

(i) the effort to prevent the arising of as-yet unarisen unwholesome mental states

(ii)    the effort to abandon arisen unwholesome mental states

(iii)   the effort to arouse as-yet unarisen wholesome mental states

(iv)   the effort to maintain and perfect arisen wholesome mental states

In daily life we must be flexible and adapt appropriately to the challenges and opportunities offered by each situation we find ourselves in. Here, ‘wholesome and unwholesome’ mental states covers the entire spectrum of virtues and defilements. Our effort might be, for example, to guard against anger in a difficult conversation, or to cultivate right speech.

In meditation practice, we choose our environment and the object of focus. Here ‘unwholesome mental states’ refers more specifically to the five hindrances (nivārana) and ‘wholesome mental states’ to the seven enlightenment factors (bojjhanga).

These four kinds of effort summarize Buddhist cultivation. They constitute the principle that unifies formal meditation practice and practice in daily life. Looking at practice in terms of effort rather than external form, we can find a continuity underlying the apparent gulf between what we do during our meditation sessions and what we do during the rest of the day.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.