Reading guide
Repetition establishing the ground for what follows
The discourse's first half isn't padding; repeating SN 12.21's content in full establishes that what follows is a response to a fully explained teaching, not an exhortation issued in a vacuum.
A teaching declared complete before the call to action
Before urging effort, the Buddha explicitly states that the teaching has been clarified, revealed, illuminated, and stripped of patchwork — there's nothing left unexplained standing between the listener and practice.
A vow stated in the most extreme possible terms
The famous image of letting only skin, sinews, and tendons remain while flesh and blood waste away doesn't describe a moderate commitment; it names the most extreme level of persistence imaginable, refusing to stop short of what's humanly possible.
A maxim connecting quality of effort to quality of outcome
The discourse doesn't simply praise effort in general; it states a specific principle — the best isn't reached by the worst, the best is reached by the best — making a direct link between the caliber of one's effort and what that effort can actually achieve.
Diligence justified three separate ways
Rather than giving a single reason to practice diligently, the discourse closes with three distinct justifications — one's own good, others' good, and both together — any one of which the Buddha says is sufficient on its own.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, a Realized One has ten powers and four kinds of self-assurance. With these he claims the bull’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the ending of form. Such is feeling, such is the origin of feeling, such is the ending of feeling. Such is perception, such is the origin of perception, such is the ending of perception. Such are choices, such is the origin of choices, such is the ending of choices. Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the ending of consciousness. When this exists, this comes to be; due to the arising of this, this arises. When this doesn’t exist, this doesn’t come to be; due to the cessation of this, this ceases. That is:
§2Ignorance is a requirement for choices. Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.
§3The teaching well-explained thus by me is clarified, revealed, illuminated, and stripped of patchwork. In this teaching thus well-explained, it is quite enough for a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith to rouse up energy. ‘Gladly, let only skin, sinews, and tendons remain! Let the flesh and blood waste away in my body! I will not stop trying until I have achieved what is possible by human strength, energy, and vigor.’
§4A lazy person lives in suffering, mixed up with bad, unskillful qualities, neglecting their heart’s great goal. But an energetic person lives happily, secluded from bad, unskillful qualities, fulfilling their heart’s great goal. The best isn’t reached by the worst. The best is reached by the best. This spiritual life is the cream, mendicants, and the Teacher is before you. So you should rouse up energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized, thinking: ‘In this way our going forth will not be barren, but will be fruitful and fertile. And the services of those whose robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick we enjoy shall be very fruitful and beneficial for them.’ That’s how you should train. Considering what is good for yourself, mendicants, is quite enough for you to persist with diligence. Considering what is good for others is quite enough for you to persist with diligence. Considering what is good for both is quite enough for you to persist with diligence.”
Self-check quiz
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