Balakaraṇīyavagga — Reader

Hard Work

Balakaraṇīyavagga

“Mendicants, all the hard work that gets done depends on the earth and is grounded on the earth. In the same way, a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti.

How so? It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

That’s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.” (Tell in full as in SN 45.149–160.)

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkarotī”ti. (Evaṁ balakaraṇīyavaggo sammappadhānavasena vitthāretabbo.) Dvādasamaṁ. Balakaraṇīyavaggo tatiyo.

Hard work, seeds, and dragons, a tree, a pot, and a spike, the atmosphere, and two on clouds,

Tassuddānaṁ Balaṁ bījañca nāgo ca, rukkho kumbhena sūkiyā; Ākāsena ca dve meghā,

a ship, a guest house, and a river.

nāvā āgantukā nadīti.