Saṁvarasutta

Disciples, these are the four exertions.

What are the four?

The exertion for restraint, the exertion for abandoning, the exertion for developing, the exertion for protecting.

And what is the exertion for restraint?

Here a disciple, having seen a form with the eye, does not grasp at its signs and features.

Since, if he left the eye faculty unrestrained, unskillful, unwholesome states of longing and dejection might invade him, he practices restraint, guards the eye faculty, undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty.

Having heard a sound with the ear...

Having smelled an odor with the nose...

Having tasted a flavor with the tongue...

Having felt a tangible with the body...

Having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, he does not grasp at its signs and features.

Since, if he left the mind faculty unrestrained, unskillful, unwholesome states of longing and dejection might invade him, he practices restraint, guards the mind faculty, undertakes the restraint of the mind faculty.

This is called the exertion for restraint.

And what is the exertion for abandoning?

Here a disciple does not tolerate an arisen thought of sensuality, he abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and causes it to disappear.

He does not tolerate an arisen thought of ill will...

He does not tolerate an arisen thought of harming...

He does not tolerate any arisen unskillful, unwholesome states, he abandons them, dispels them, terminates them, and causes them to disappear.

This is called the exertion for abandoning.

And what is the exertion for developing?

Here a disciple develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, which is based on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.

He develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of states...

He develops the enlightenment factor of energy...

He develops the enlightenment factor of pīti...

He develops the enlightenment factor of tranquility...

He develops the enlightenment factor of concentration...

He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is based on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.

This is called the exertion for developing.

And what is the exertion for protecting?

Here a disciple protects an arisen favorable concentration sign, such as the perception of a skeleton, the perception of a worm-infested corpse, the perception of a discolored corpse, the perception of a fissured corpse, the perception of a bloated corpse.

This is called the exertion for protecting.

These are the four exertions.

Restraint and abandoning, Developing and protecting;

These four exertions, were taught by the Kinsman of the Sun;

By which a disciple, ardent here, may reach the end of suffering.