What is Right Effort? Right Effort is diligent and true. With ‘Right’ meaning proper and true, and ‘Effort’ meaning diligence and proactive. Right Effort is to prevent the arising of harmful, negative thoughts, thereby fostering and developing the available positive thoughts and being persistent on the spiritual practice journey.
When you explore Buddhism, you will quickly encounter a central pillar: the Noble Eightfold Path. This intricate path delineates the philosophical principles and necessary practices to attain enlightenment, leading us to one of its indispensable components – Right Effort. But what does this really mean?
Imagine you’re a gardener of the mind. Right Effort is the mindful work you put into nurturing beneficial plants (wholesome states of mind), while diligently weeding out the harmful ones (unwholesome states of mind). It’s the careful tending, the constant vigilance, and yes, the sweat and patience that turn a wild, unruly garden into a tranquil haven of serenity and beauty.
But don’t be fooled – Right Effort isn’t about straining or pushing yourself to the extreme. True to the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Way, it’s about balance. It’s the sweet spot between trying too hard and not trying hard enough. It’s like tuning a string instrument, finding the right tension that creates a harmonious sound, without being too tight or too loose.
What is Right Effort?
Right Effort, also known as Samyak Vyayama or Samma Vayama, is one of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path in Buddhism—a central guiding framework that encapsulates the principal teachings of the Buddha concerning the way to enlightenment. This key concept encapsulates the diligence required in spiritual practice, emphasizing that inner transformation and liberation necessitate earnest application.
Right Effort refers to the exertion required to cultivate and maintain wholesome qualities of the mind while discouraging and eliminating unwholesome ones. This concept is typically categorized into four great endeavors, known as the Four Right Exertions:
- Prevention: The effort to prevent unwholesome mental states from arising. Unwholesome mental states refer to states of mind characterized by greed, aversion, delusion, or other qualities that cause suffering. The practice of mindfulness can be instrumental in this endeavor, allowing one to notice and curtail such thoughts before they gain momentum.
- Abandonment: The effort to abandon unwholesome mental states that have already arisen. This can involve various meditation techniques or mindfulness exercises, guiding the practitioner to recognize, acknowledge and let go of harmful mental states without judgment or aversion.
- Cultivation: The effort to cultivate wholesome mental states that have not yet arisen. Wholesome states of mind include qualities like loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), empathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha), among others. Cultivating these states often involves focused meditation or conscious contemplation on these qualities.
- Maintenance: The effort to maintain and perfect wholesome mental states that have already arisen. The practitioner must nurture and preserve these wholesome states once they have been developed to ensure their continuance and growth.
These exertions highlight the active role each individual plays in their path to enlightenment. Buddhist teachings emphasize that liberation is not granted by an external force, but achieved through the practitioner’s effort.
1. Effort to Prevent
And what is the effort to prevent? Here, the disciple arouses will, makes an effort, strives, is diligent, and exerts himself to avoid the arising of evil, unwholesome states that have not yet arisen, preventing them from coming into being.
Thus, when perceiving a form with the eye, a sound with the ear, an odor with the nose, a flavor with the tongue, a tactile sensation with the body, or a mental object with the mind, the person does not grasp at the general or particular features. Whatever reasons there are that, when the senses are unrestrained, lead to the arising of longing and distress, unwholesome states, that person prevents those reasons and guards, restrains his senses.
By possessing this ‘guarding of the senses,’ which is noble, the person enjoys peace and tranquility, and the inner mind is without fault. This is called the effort to prevent.
2. Effort to Abandon
And what is the effort to abandon? Here, the disciple arouses will, makes an effort, strives, is diligent, and exerts himself to abandon the arisen evil, unwholesome states, causing them to be eradicated.
The person does not accept any thoughts of greed, hatred, or any evil, unwholesome states that may have arisen. He abandons, dispels, and extinguishes them, making them vanish.
If here, the disciple, while focusing and paying attention to a certain object, and thereby unwholesome thoughts associated with greed, hatred, and delusion arise in him, then the disciple should do the following: (1) Focus and pay attention to a different object, opposite to that one, associated with the good and wholesome. (2) Reflect on the misery and harm of these thoughts: ‘Indeed, how unwholesome these thoughts are! Sinful these thoughts are! They bring suffering!’; (3) Pay no attention and care to these thoughts; (4) Focus on pacifying the source of these thoughts; (5) Clenching his teeth and pressing his tongue against his palate, he exerts his mind to restrain, suppress, and root out these thoughts.
This is called the effort to abandon.
3. Effort to Cultivate
And what is the effort to cultivate? Here, the disciple arouses will, makes an effort, strives, is diligent, and exerts himself to cultivate the wholesome states that have not yet arisen, causing them to arise.
Thus, he develops the seven ‘Factors of Enlightenment’ (satta bojjhaṅga), based on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and culminating in liberation, which are: ‘Mindfulness’, ‘Investigation of Dhamma’, ‘Energy’, ‘Joy’, ‘Tranquility’, ‘Concentration’, and ‘Equanimity’.
This is called the effort to cultivate.
4. Effort to Maintain
And what is the effort to maintain? Here, the disciple arouses will, makes an effort, strives, is diligent, and exerts himself to maintain and preserve the arisen wholesome states, ensuring they do not disappear, making them sustained, augmented, and fully developed.
For instance, the person keeps his mind on a beneficial meditation subject that has been arisen, such as the perception of a skeleton, the perception of a festering corpse, a blue-black corpse, a decomposing corpse, a fissured corpse, a bloated corpse. This is called the effort to maintain.
Understanding Right Effort is crucial to the practitioner’s spiritual journey, bridging the gap between the understanding of Buddhist teachings and their implementation. Coupled with Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, Right Effort forms the concentration division (samadhi) of the Eightfold Path, directing one’s mental energies towards liberation and enlightenment.
However, Right Effort does not imply a forceful or strained endeavor. Instead, it encourages a balanced approach—an effort that avoids extremes of excessive strain on one hand, and laxity or lack of application on the other. This aligns with the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Way, which advocates for a balanced approach to spiritual practice.
The Role of Right Effort in the Eightfold Path
In its placement within the Eightfold Path, Right Effort forms an integral part of the “concentration division” (samadhi), which also comprises Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati) and Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi).
This division of the Eightfold Path is concerned primarily with the cultivation of mental discipline and the development of meditative absorption. Right Effort, as a constituent of this division, is instrumental in providing the energy required for this discipline and development. Without adequate exertion, both mindfulness and concentration would be insufficiently fostered, hindering one’s progress towards enlightenment.
Right Effort contributes to the wholesome transformation of the practitioner’s mind. It prepares and nurtures the ground for the cultivation of wisdom, which is essential for the liberation from suffering—the ultimate aim of Buddhist practice. In this way, Right Effort could be considered the “engine” that propels the practitioner along the Eightfold Path.
The specific role of Right Effort is also discernible in its interaction with the other factors of the Eightfold Path. It functions as a safeguard against moral transgressions by energizing Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood—components of the ethical conduct division (sila). Additionally, it enhances the wisdom division (panna) by fostering the mindful attentiveness necessary for Right View and Right Intention.
You have to note that Right Effort is not merely about exertion but also about balance. It resonates with the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Way, suggesting an effort that avoids two extremes: overzealousness, which may lead to spiritual burnout, and negligence, which might result in stagnation or backsliding. This balanced effort is crucial for sustaining progress on the Eightfold Path.
Moreover, the practitioner’s effort must be ‘right’ or ‘wise’ effort—it should be directed appropriately for it to bear fruit. In this context, Right Effort involves focusing energy towards the cultivation and preservation of wholesome mental states and the prevention and elimination of unwholesome ones.
Benefits of Practicing Right Effort
Practicing Right Effort yields numerous benefits for the spiritual practitioner, extending from psychological well-being to ethical conduct and spiritual development. These benefits are integral for one’s progress towards the cessation of suffering and the realization of enlightenment.
Cultivation of wholesome states of mind: By focusing on the cultivation and maintenance of wholesome mental states, and the prevention and elimination of unwholesome ones, Right Effort encourages the development of positive qualities such as compassion, kindness, equanimity and sympathetic joy. This cultivation of wholesome states contributes to a serene and joyful mind, improving mental well-being and promoting harmonious interactions with others.
Reduction of suffering: The practice of Right Effort assists in minimizing suffering by advocating the abandonment of harmful mental states like greed, hatred and delusion. By actively preventing these negative states from arising and abandoning them when they have arisen, one can mitigate the emotional turmoil and distress these states often engender.
Development of moral conduct: Right Effort reinforces ethical conduct by serving as a mental safeguard. With a diligent and balanced effort to maintain wholesome mental states, a practitioner is less likely to engage in negative behaviors that contravene the principles of Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.
Enhancement of mindfulness and concentration: Right Effort is instrumental in deepening mindfulness and concentration, both of which are crucial for meditative practice. Effort fuels the alertness and presence of mind necessary for sustained mindfulness, and it provides the perseverance needed to develop deep states of concentration.
Progress on the path to enlightenment: Practicing Right Effort facilitates progress on the Buddhist path by providing the energy necessary to persist in one’s practice. It is the driving force that propels the practitioner forward on the path towards liberation.
Realization of impermanence and non-self: By maintaining a steady, mindful effort in observing the mind, a practitioner can gain direct insight into the Buddhist concepts of impermanence (anicca) and non-self (anatta). Understanding these fundamental aspects of reality is a significant step towards enlightenment.
Promotion of balance in practice: Right Effort fosters a balanced approach to spiritual practice. It helps to avoid the extremes of too much or too little effort, both of which can hinder progress. This aspect of Right Effort aligns with the Buddha’s teachings on the Middle Way.
How to Practice Right Effort in Daily Life
The application of Right Effort is not confined to formal meditation or spiritual retreats. Indeed, it can and should permeate every aspect of daily life. Here are some practical strategies for incorporating Right Effort into everyday routines.
Mindfulness: Cultivate continuous mindfulness throughout the day. By being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions in real-time, you can apply Right Effort effectively. This involves preventing and abandoning unwholesome mental states and cultivating and maintaining wholesome ones. Paying attention to daily activities, whether it’s eating, walking, or even performing household chores, can serve as a practice of mindfulness.
Meditation: Regular meditation practice is a direct way of implementing Right Effort. This could be in the form of mindfulness meditation, concentration meditation, or loving-kindness meditation, all of which provide a structured framework for practicing the four right exertions.
Ethical conduct: Practice Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood, which are other elements of the Eightfold Path. By focusing on ethical behavior, you indirectly foster wholesome mental states and prevent unwholesome ones, thereby implementing Right Effort in your interactions and engagements.
Reflection: Regularly reflect on your actions and intentions to ensure they align with the principles of Right Effort. Periodic introspection can help identify areas where more effort is needed and where existing efforts could be better directed.
Balance: It is crucial to maintain a balance in your efforts. Avoid the extremes of striving too hard or not striving enough. Understanding that spiritual development is a gradual process can help in maintaining this balance. This approach aligns with the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Way.
Positive relationships: Engage with individuals who inspire and support your spiritual practice. Positive relationships can help in fostering wholesome mental states and provide a supportive environment for the practice of Right Effort.
Study: Regular study of Buddhist teachings can provide the necessary understanding and motivation to apply Right Effort. It can also help in maintaining a correct and beneficial direction in your efforts.
Service: Participate in acts of kindness and service towards others. Such activities cultivate wholesome mental states like compassion and selflessness, contributing to the practice of Right Effort.
Physical health: Take care of your physical health through regular exercise and a balanced diet. Physical well-being often supports mental well-being, providing the vitality necessary for sustained effort.
When you incorporate these practices into your daily life, you can effectively apply Right Effort in a practical and approachable way. The aim of these practices is to cultivate a peaceful, luminous mind that leads to wisdom, thereby creating favorable conditions for progress on the path to liberation.
