[449] What eight dhammas conduce to distinction? The eight grounds for arousing energy (ārabbhavatthu).
Here, friends, a bhikkhu has work that must be done. He thinks thus: 'There is work that I shall have to do; but while I am doing the work it will not be easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas. Come, let me arouse energy (vīriya) for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the first ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu has done some work. He thinks thus: 'I have done some work; but while doing the work I was not able to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' … This is the second ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu has a road that must be traveled. He thinks thus: 'There is a road that I shall have to travel; but while I am traveling the road it will not be easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the third ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu has traveled a road. He thinks thus: 'I have traveled a road; but while traveling the road I was not able to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the fourth ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu, walking for alms in a village or town, does not obtain his fill, as much as he needs, of food whether coarse or fine. He thinks thus: 'Walking for alms in a village or town, I did not obtain my fill, as much as I need, of food whether coarse or fine. This body of mine is light and fit for work. Come, let me arouse energy … for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the fifth ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu, walking for alms in a village or town, obtains his fill, as much as he needs, of food whether coarse or fine. He thinks thus: 'Walking for alms in a village or town, I obtained my fill, as much as I need, of food whether coarse or fine. This body of mine is strong and fit for work. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the sixth ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a slight illness has arisen in a bhikkhu. He thinks thus: 'A slight illness has arisen in me; it is possible that this illness of mine may worsen. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained … for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the seventh ground for arousing energy.
Again, friends, a bhikkhu has recovered from illness, not long recovered from sickness. He thinks thus: 'I have recovered from illness, not long recovered from sickness; it is possible that this illness of mine may return. Come, let me arouse energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized.' He arouses energy for the attaining of what has not been attained, for the achieving of what has not been achieved, for the realizing of what has not been realized. This is the eighth ground for arousing energy.
These eight dhammas conduce to distinction.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.