[659] "Striving (padhāna), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for the attainment of truth. If one did not strive, one would not attain this truth; but because one strives, one attains the truth. Therefore striving is of great help for the attainment of truth."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for striving? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for striving."
"Weighing up (tulanā), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for striving. If one did not weigh up, one would not thus strive; but because one weighs up, one strives. Therefore weighing up is of great help for striving."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for weighing up? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for weighing up."
"Exertion (ussāha), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for weighing up. If one did not exert oneself, one would not thus weigh up; but because one exerts oneself, one weighs up. Therefore exertion is of great help for weighing up."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for exertion? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for exertion."
"Desire (chanda), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for exertion. If desire did not arise, one would not thus exert oneself; but because desire arises, one exerts oneself. Therefore desire is of great help for exertion."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for desire? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for desire."
"Reflective acceptance of the teachings (dhammanijjhānakkhanti), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for desire. If the teachings were not accepted upon reflection, desire would not thus arise; but because the teachings are accepted upon reflection, desire arises. Therefore reflective acceptance of the teachings is of great help for desire."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for reflective acceptance of the teachings? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for reflective acceptance of the teachings."
"Examination of the meaning (atthupaparikkhā), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for reflective acceptance of the teachings. If one did not examine the meaning, the teachings would not thus be accepted upon reflection; but because one examines the meaning, the teachings are accepted upon reflection. Therefore examination of the meaning is of great help for reflective acceptance of the teachings."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for examination of the meaning? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for examination of the meaning."
"Retaining the teaching (dhammadhāraṇā), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for examination of the meaning. If one did not retain the teaching, one would not thus examine the meaning; but because one retains the teaching, one examines the meaning. Therefore retaining the teaching is of great help for examination of the meaning."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for retaining the teaching? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for retaining the teaching."
"Hearing the teaching (dhammassavana), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for retaining the teaching. If one did not hear the teaching, one would not thus retain the teaching; but because one hears the teaching, one retains the teaching. Therefore hearing the teaching is of great help for retaining the teaching."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for hearing the teaching? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for hearing the teaching."
"Lending ear (sotāvadhāna), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for hearing the teaching. If one did not lend ear, one would not thus hear the teaching; but because one lends ear, one hears the teaching. Therefore lending ear is of great help for hearing the teaching."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for lending ear? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for lending ear."
"Attending upon a teacher (payirupāsanā), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for lending ear. If one did not attend upon a teacher, one would not thus lend ear; but because one attends upon a teacher, one lends ear. Therefore attending upon a teacher is of great help for lending ear."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for attending upon a teacher? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for attending upon a teacher."
"Approaching (upasaṅkamana), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for attending upon a teacher. If one did not approach, one would not thus attend upon a teacher; but because one approaches, one attends upon a teacher. Therefore approaching is of great help for attending upon a teacher."
"But, worthy Gotama, what quality is of great help for approaching? We ask the worthy Gotama about the quality of great help for approaching."
"Faith (saddhā), Bhāradvāja, is of great help for approaching. If faith did not arise, one would not thus approach; but because faith arises, one approaches. Therefore faith is of great help for approaching."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.