How did monks arouse energy for the task at hand?

[NuanceOfSuchness]

I'm speaking more here about the enlightenment factor of energy. Please could you quote suttas?

Thank you in advance.

[cappuccino]

our intention to do something brings energy to do it

[JohnK]

MN 118 presents the factors in causal sequence beginning with mindfulness, then investigation, and then energy, etc.
https://legacy.suttacentral.net/en/mn118

..."And how, bhikkhus, do the four foundations of mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven enlightenment factors?

“Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world—on that occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in him. On whatever occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in a bhikkhu—on that occasion the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfilment in him.

“Abiding thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion, abiding thus mindful, a bhikkhu investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.

“In one who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, tireless energy is aroused. On whatever occasion tireless energy is aroused in a bhikkhu who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion the energy enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him...

And so on.
In discourses on the spiritual faculties, faith/conviction precedes energy/persistence.

[JohnK]

From SN46:2 (boldface added by me):

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of energy and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of energy? There are, bhikkhus, the element of arousal, the element of endeavour, the element of exertion: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of energy and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of energy.

https://legacy.suttacentral.net/en/sn46.2

[JohnK]

“While he discriminates that Dhamma with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it, his energy is aroused without slackening. Whenever, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s energy is aroused without slackening as he discriminates that Dhamma with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it, on that occasion the enlightenment factor of energy is aroused by the bhikkhu; on that occasion the bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of energy; on that occasion the enlightenment factor of energy comes to fulfilment by development in the bhikkhu.

https://legacy.suttacentral.net/en/sn46.3
I take "that Dhamma" to be the teachings on dukkha and its cessation; faith/conviction in the possibility of liberation seems like it would motivate/energize for the task at hand.

[SarathW]

John

[JohnK]

Approaching it from another angle -- the Buddha on how to counter drowsiness:

...Are you nodding, Moggallāna? Are you nodding?”
“Yes, lord.”

“Well then, Moggallāna, whatever perception you have in mind when drowsiness descends on you, don’t attend to that perception, don’t pursue it. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then recall to your awareness the Dhamma as you have heard & memorized it, re-examine it, & ponder it over in your mind. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then repeat aloud in detail the Dhamma as you have heard & memorized it. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then pull both your earlobes and rub your limbs with your hands. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then get up from your seat and, after washing your eyes out with water, look around in all directions and upward to the major stars & constellations. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then attend to the perception of light, resolve on the perception of daytime, (dwelling) by night as by day, and by day as by night. By means of an awareness thus open & unhampered, develop a brightened mind. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then—percipient of what lies in front & behind—set a distance to meditate walking back & forth, your senses inwardly immersed, your mind not straying outwards. It’s possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.

“But if by doing this you don’t shake off your drowsiness, then—reclining on your right side—take up the lion’s posture, one foot placed on top of the other, mindful, alert, with your mind set on getting up. As soon as you wake up, get up quickly, with the thought, ‘I won’t stay indulging in the pleasure of lying down, the pleasure of reclining, the pleasure of drowsiness.’ That is how you should train yourself...

https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN7_58.html

[chownah]

ONe way they do it is by drinking beverages which contain caffeine.
chownah

[SteRo]

I'm speaking more here about the enlightenment factor of energy. Please could you quote suttas?

Thank you in advance.

For me the preciousness and rareness of this human life which may end every second but offers the extraordinary rare possibility to practice the path is a pro for energy.

"Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole there. A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south, a wind from the south would push it north. And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every one hundred years. Now what do you think: would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?"

"It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole."

"It's likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, arises in the world. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Now, this human state has been obtained. A Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world. A doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world.

"Therefore your duty is the contemplation, 'This is stress... This is the origination of stress... This is the cessation of stress.' Your duty is the contemplation, 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.'"

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html

few are the beings reborn among human beings. Far more are those reborn elsewhere.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html

[NuanceOfSuchness]

our intention to do something brings energy to do it

Thanks. Are you speaking specifically about a particular type of sankhara? My intention these days is driven by seeing clearly the four noble truths in various instances during my practice. I recall those moments and allow them to occupy my peripheral cognition and this fuels my mindfulness. Mindfulness is, for the most part, effortless. Sometimes there occurs an energy flow where it appears I'm in sync with phenomena or worldly activities. I may be mistaking this for the enlightenment factor of energy or perhaps it comes in various shades? It's energetic for sure and comes with a beautiful sense of ease but mind is the great tomfoolery of this process.

Could you say a little more about this intention to do something?

[cappuccino]

our intention to do something brings energy to do it

Could you say a little more about this intention to do something?

you need to read the scriptures often, if not daily

then you'll more know what to do

[2600htz]

Hello:

Energy as awakening factor is the effort needed to abstain from unwholesome states, get into jhana, carry on the investigation, the mindfulness, and the rest of the awakening factors, in order to attain some stage of awakening.

There are many things that are related to that energy, like:

-Having a need or urge to attain some state (for example someone with a lot of pain, will look for a fix to his problem, whatever it takes, or a monk, someone who is very commited to the practice and will not feel at ease until he attains something).

-Having a clear understanding of what that effort is supposed to be

-Having good mindfulness, "ok im making this amount of effort regarding things that are arising"

-Hearing a dhamma talk that makes hairs of the body stand up.

-Noble friendship

-Being in a delightful place for meditation

-etc..

Whatever makes your blood run and is inspiring.

Regards.







-

[chownah]

One way they do this is by getting enough exercise.
chownah

[NuanceOfSuchness]

MN 118 presents the factors in causal sequence beginning with mindfulness, then investigation, and then energy, etc.
https://legacy.suttacentral.net/en/mn118

..."And how, bhikkhus, do the four foundations of mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven enlightenment factors?

“Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world—on that occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in him. On whatever occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in a bhikkhu—on that occasion the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfilment in him.

“Abiding thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion, abiding thus mindful, a bhikkhu investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.

“In one who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, tireless energy is aroused. On whatever occasion tireless energy is aroused in a bhikkhu who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion the energy enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him...

And so on.
In discourses on the spiritual faculties, faith/conviction precedes energy/persistence.

This is what I needed to read.

Much gratitude.

[frank k]

One of the main methods is marana sati
(collection of passages here)
http://lucid24.org/sted/maranassati/index.html

excerpt:
maraṇa-s-sati = death-remembering
‘appamattā viharissāma, tikkhaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāvessāma āsavānaṃ khayāyā’ti. (AN 6.19)
1. Never forget, remembering to assiduously practice ☸Dharma for arahantship every moment, giving it everything you got, for the time it takes for one breath, or the time it takes to eat one mouthful of food. If you get sidetracked or forget to be assiduous (ap-pamāda), the Buddha calls that negligence (pamāda). (AN 6.19).
2. Remembering, not forgetting that fatal accidents can strike at any moment, so practice the ☸Dharma assiduously every moment. Doing this correctly, will activate the 7sb sequence producing virtuous-mirth (mudita/pamojja) and rapture (pīti). (AN 6.20).

And a very closely related topic, appamada
http://lucid24.org/tped/a/appamada/index.html