The Buddha explains the importance of rousing of energy and the consequences of having many desires, few desires, dissatisfaction, contentment, (careless) attention, radical attention, clear comprehension and lack of it, and bad friendship.

AN 1.61-70 Vīriyārambhādi vagga - The Chapter Beginning with the Rousing of Energy

1.61

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyārambho. Āraddhavīriyassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality causes unarisen wholesome qualities to arise, or arisen unwholesome qualities to decline as |rousing of energy::taking initiative, making a mental decision to act [vīriyārambha]|. For one who has aroused energy, bhikkhus, unarisen wholesome qualities arise, and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.

Paṭhamaṁ.

First.

1.62

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, mahicchatā. Mahicchassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen unwholesome qualities to arise, or arisen wholesome qualities to decline as |having many desires::longing and yearning for many things, greediness [mahicchatā]|. For one with many desires, bhikkhus, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise, and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Second.

1.63

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, appicchatā. Appicchassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen wholesome qualities to arise, or arisen unwholesome qualities to decline as |having few wishes::being content [appicchatā]|. For one with few wishes, bhikkhus, unarisen wholesome qualities arise, and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Third.

1.64

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, asantuṭṭhitā. Asantuṭṭhassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen unwholesome qualities to arise, or arisen wholesome qualities to decline as |discontentment::dissatisfaction [asantuṭṭhitā]|. For one who is discontent, bhikkhus, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise, and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

Catutthaṁ.

Fourth.

1.65

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, santuṭṭhitā. Santuṭṭhassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen wholesome qualities to arise, or arisen unwholesome qualities to decline as |being content::satisfaction, having few wishes [santuṭṭhitā]|. For one who is content, bhikkhus, unarisen wholesome qualities arise, and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Fifth.

1.66

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, ayonisomanasikāro. Ayoniso, bhikkhave, manasi karoto anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen unwholesome qualities to arise, or arisen wholesome qualities to decline as |superficial attention::unwise attention, peripheral attention, content-bound reflection; lit. attention not from the source [ayonisomanasikāra]|. For one who attends superficially, bhikkhus, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise, and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Sixth.

1.67

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, yonisomanasikāro. Yoniso, bhikkhave, manasi karoto anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen wholesome qualities to arise, or arisen unwholesome qualities to decline as |radical attention::wise steering of attention, root-level attention, attention to the structural source, contextual reflection; lit. attention from the source [yoniso + manasikāra]|. For one who attends radically, bhikkhus, unarisen wholesome qualities arise, and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.”

Sattamaṁ.

Seventh.

1.68

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, asampajaññaṁ. Asampajānassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen unwholesome qualities to arise, or arisen wholesome qualities to decline as |lack of clear awareness::lack of attentiveness, lack of clear comprehension [asampajañña]|. For one who lacks clear awareness, bhikkhus, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise, and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Eighth.

1.69

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, sampajaññaṁ. Sampajānassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen wholesome qualities to arise, or arisen unwholesome qualities to decline, as much as having |clear awareness::attentiveness, clear and full comprehension [sampajañña]|. For one having clear awareness, bhikkhus, unarisen wholesome qualities arise, and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.”

Navamaṁ.

Ninth.

1.70

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, pāpamittatā. Pāpamittassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that causes unarisen unwholesome qualities to arise, or arisen wholesome qualities to decline as |bad friendship::friendship with unwholesome persons [pāpamittatā]|. For one with bad friends, bhikkhus, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise, and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

Dasamaṁ.

Tenth.

Qualities:

Bad friendship

Bad friendship

Association with those who are unprincipled, faithless, or unwise. Such companionship leads one away from the Dhamma, fostering negligence and wrong view.

Also known as: friendship with unwholesome persons
Pāli: pāpamittatā
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Clear awareness

Clear awareness

Clear comprehension that accompanies mindfulness, knowing what one is doing and why. Clear awareness keeps the mind steady, intentional, and free from distraction.

Also known as: clear awareness, clear comprehension, being intentional, deliberate, purposeful
Pāli: sampajañña, sampajāna
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Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Discontentment

Discontentment

A state of dissatisfaction with one's requisites or conditions. It fuels the search for more, disturbing peace and preventing the mind from settling into collectedness.

Also known as: dissatisfaction, unsatisfactoriness, boredom
Pāli: asantuṭṭhitā, aratī, atitta
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Having many desires

Having many desires

An excessive wanting for possessions, pleasure, or recognition that keeps the mind unsatisfied. It grows from craving and discontentment and feeds restlessness. The many-desiring mind cannot find ease, for it multiplies its own needs endlessly.

Also known as: greediness, Related to:{sensual desire}
Pāli: mahicchatā
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Negligence

Negligence

Dwelling with unrestrained faculties, soiled by sensory attraction. Negligence is the failure to guard the mind and to arouse heedfulness, blocking the arising of wholesome states.

Also known as: carelessness, heedlessness, inattentiveness
Pāli: pamāda
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Radical attention

Radical attention

The active, deliberate steering of the mind away from habitual, automated reaction patterns. It is the wise steering of attention based on a theme of the Dhamma.

Also known as: wise steering of attention, root-level attention, attention to the structural source, contextual reflection
Pāli: yonisomanasikāra
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Rousing of energy

Rousing of energy

The arousing of effort and determination in body and mind. It begins with confidence and reflection on purpose, stirring energy for wholesome action.

Also known as: determination, being energetic, taking initiative, making a mental decision to act
Pāli: vīriyārambha, āraddhavīriya, uṭṭhānavant, atandita, pahitatta
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Superficial attention

Superficial attention

The passive, automatic drifting of the mind into habitual, automated reaction patterns. It is the unskillful steering of attention based on the enticing or repulsive surface features of an object.

Also known as: unwise steering of attention, content-bound reflection
Pāli: ayonisomanasikāra
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Last updated on July 11, 2026