Right endeavour (Buddhism)

Established in right speech, right acts and right livelihood, and in association with right outlook, energy cuts off idleness. The four efforts can be defined as: (i) Restraint, avoidance of unwholesome factors – the individual makes every effort to prevent those bad or wrong qualities which have not yet arisen from arising. (ii) Overcoming unwholesome factors – the individual makes every effort to renounce those bad or wrong qualities which have already arisen. (iii) Developing wholesome factors – bodhyanga – the individual fosters good qualities which have not yet arisen. (iv) Maintaining wholesome factors – the individual establishes, develops and perfects those good qualities which are already there. Particularly through guarding the senses, wholesome volition is cultivated and unwholesome mental activity prevented. The characteristic is exerting or upholding; the function is non-arousal of unprofitable or immoral states or qualities; manifestation is in abandoning wrong effort.

One of the characteristics of the Eightfold Way of Buddhism attained with the path of bhavana (meditation) and which, together with right mindfulness and right rapture of concentration, constitutes mental discipline (samadhi). Among the prerequisites for enlightenment – bodhi pakshika dharma – of which there are 37 grouped in seven areas, this group is the second of the seven areas. One of the sections of yogic paths or harmonies with enlightenment defined in Buddhism.