The Four Efforts (First Discourse)

Monks, there are these four efforts.

What four?

The effort to restrain, that to abandon, that to make arise, and the effort to preserve.

And of what sort, Monks, is the effort to restrain?

Here, a Monk generates intention for the non-arising of evil, unwholesome states that have not yet arisen; he makes an effort, applies his energy, he lays hold of and exerts his mind (to this end).

This, Monks, is called the effort to restrain.

And of what sort, Monks, is the effort to abandon?

Here, a Monk generates intention for the abandoning of evil, unwholesome states that have arisen; he makes an effort, applies his energy, he lays hold of and exerts his mind (to this end).

This is called the effort to abandon.

And of what sort, Monks, is the effort to make-arise?

Here he generates intention for the arising of wholesome states not yet arisen; he makes an effort, applies his energy, he lays hold of and exerts his mind (to this end).

This is called the effort to make-arise.

And of what sort, Monks, is the effort to preserve?

Here, a Monk generates intention for the establishing, for the non-confusion, for the more-existence, for the increase, cultivation and fulfillment of wholesome states that have arisen; he makes an effort, applies his energy, he lays hold of and exerts his mind (to this end).

This is called the effort to preserve.

So these, Monks, are the four efforts.

(Reference: AN 4.69)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares details on the four aspects of Right Effort from The Eight Fold Path. This Teaching connects directly to Right Effort as part of The Eight Fold Path.

Restraint, abandon, make-arise, and preserve are another way to think of the four types of Right Effort.

Right Effort: Right Effort has four (4) aspects to it that need to be understood and practiced.

To apply Right Effort, you will need to:

A.) Prevent unwholesome mental states that have not arisen from arising in the mind. (Restraint)

B.) Abandon unwholesome mental states that have arisen in the mind. (Abandon)

C.) Produce un-arisen wholesome mental states to arise in the mind. (Make-Arise)

D.) Maintain wholesome mental states that have arisen, not allowing them to fade away and work to increase their growth in the mind. (Preserve)

Prevent unwholesome mental states that have not arisen from arising in the mind

A good example of this aspect of Right Effort would be that you most likely have no interest in killing another human being currently in the mind. The unwholesome mental state of killing another human being is un-arisen in the mind.

Applying this aspect of Right Effort would be to prevent this unwholesome mental state and all other unwholesome mental states that have not arisen in the mind from arising.

Abandon unwholesome mental states that have arisen in the mind

A good example of this aspect of Right Effort would be that if you are currently in a relationship yet have a craving and desire to have sexual contact with another. you should apply Right Effort to abandon this unwholesome mental state that has arisen in the mind. Eliminate the unwholesome mental state of craving sexual contact as you already have a partner and having sexual contact with another would cause harm.

Another example of this would be when you feel the rise of anger inside of the mind along with the physical sensations of a burning and irate feeling arising. Do you let it come through in your speech and actions or do you make the “Right Effort” to abandon this unwholesome mental state?

By applying “Right Effort” we can abandon the unwholesome mental state prior to reacting through our speech and actions, thus, eliminating any potential unwholesome Kamma production through our speech and actions.

Produce un-arisen wholesome mental states to arise in the mind.

A good example of this aspect of Right Effort would be if you know the mind is not generous or compassionate, then you apply Right Effort to produce these un-arisen wholesome mental states to arise in the mind. Practice generosity and compassion through your actions and all other wholesome mental states that need to be arisen to attain Enlightenment.

Maintain wholesome mental states that have arisen, not allowing them to fade away and work to increase their growth in the mind.

A good example of this aspect of Right Effort would be if the mind currently has loving-kindness and sympathetic joy. Then you apply Right Effort to maintain these wholesome mental states that have arisen, not allowing them to fade away and work to increase their growth in the mind.

Right Effort Summary

In applying Right Effort, you actively work to prevent and then abandon unwholesome mental states such as craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) or ego from arising along with other unwholesome mental states that would be in conflict with The Five Precepts or other Teachings. It is important to cultivate wholesome mental states such as generosity, loving-kindness, wisdom, and humbleness (the opposites of craving, anger, ignorance, and ego).

You can apply Right Effort to cultivate the wholesome mental states of compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity, along with the wholesome mental states shared as guidance in The Five Precepts and all other Teachings shared by Gotama Buddha.

You will also need to apply Right Effort to develop a meditation practice on a consistent and ongoing basis. A Practitioner will need to apply Right Effort to abandon the unwholesome mental state of complacency and arise the wholesome quality of developing and practicing meditation daily.

After implementing this important practice in applying “Right Effort”, over time you will notice it becomes easier and easier to abandon the unwholesome mental states and arise wholesome mental states.

Over time and as you better train the mind, when events happen in your life where you once experienced anger or other unwholesome mental states, you won’t even have a rise of the unwholesome mental state - at all. You will not experience any anger, frustration, irritation or other unwelcome feelings. You will notice that you can completely and entirely eliminate 100% of all unwholesome mental states through actively cutting off the arising of unwholesome mental states and through cultivating wholesome mental states.

Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and generosity is training the mind to easily “let go”. Then, in daily life as unwelcome feelings and unwholesome mental states arise, a Practitioner can more easily apply Right Effort to “cut off” and eliminate the unwholesome, arising the wholesome. Through determination, dedication, and diligence to apply Right Effort in daily life, over time, the mind will gradually eliminate any arising of discontentedness. This requires a committed and consistent meditation practice along with learning and implementing all the other Teachings including Right Effort.

Right Effort will help you to attain a peaceful, calm, and stable mind no matter what events happen in your life. You will not be attached to the speech nor actions of others nor events that happen around you. You will ultimately attain an unshakeable content mind. The mind will need gradual training to accomplish this result.

Training the mind in this way, you can work towards liberating the mind through wisdom. It is a permanent place for the mind to reside, content and peaceful.

The same applies to unwholesome mental states like sexual desire that would break The Five Precepts, or other unwholesome mental states. Do you allow this unwholesome mental state to continue to arise and then apply speech and action to fulfill your desire or do you make efforts to abandon this unwholesome mental state?

We must apply “Right Effort” to abandon unwholesome mental states and produce or maintain wholesome mental states.

With “Right Effort” you prevent unwholesome mental states that have not arisen from arising, abandon unwholesome mental states that have arisen, produce un-arisen wholesome mental states, and maintain wholesome mental states that have arisen, not allowing them to fade away and work to increase their growth in the mind.