Right Effort | Sanskrit: सम्यग्व्यायाम | IAST: samyag-vyāyāma | Framed Zen Art | 12 inch x 12 inch

In the Eightfold Path of Buddhist philosophy, "Right Effort" is a key concept that aims to guide practitioners on how to properly use their mental and physical strength to achieve personal spiritual goals. Right effort is not only a process of diligent practice, but also an application of wisdom to ensure that actions are consistent with the ultimate goal of achieving liberation.

Right effort can be divided into four main components, which together promote the purification and upliftment of the mind:

• Preventing the emergence of unwholesome mental states: This involves being alert and guarding against the development of unwholesome mental states (such as greed, anger, laziness, etc.) that have not yet arisen.

• Avoid the growth of unwholesome mental states: If unwholesome mental states have already appeared, Right Effort teaches that practitioners should work hard to remove or reduce the influence of these mental states and prevent them from developing or solidifying further.

• Cultivate a kind mentality: This involves actively cultivating positive mental states such as compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, etc., especially those positive qualities that have not been possessed or are not strong enough.

• Maintaining the sustainability of kind mindsets: Once positive mental states such as compassion and wisdom have been developed and strengthened, right effort requires the practitioners to continually strive to maintain these states and prevent their decline.

This practice helps develop a deep sense of self-awareness and responsibility and is an essential path to the state of nirvana.

Read our meditation blog to understand more about Right Effort: Right Effort: Insights and Practices from Buddhist Philosophy.