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The resources which follow may be grouped under the heading "Right Effort" (the sixth factor of The Noble Eightfold Path), which consists of these undertakings: (1) to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states; (2) to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen; (3) to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen; and (4) to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.  For an excellent discussion of this topic, see Right Effort (Ch. 5 of "The Noble Eightfold Path" by Bhikkhu Bodhi).  Learning to skillfully deal with hindrances that have already arisen (#2) is the topic of  The Five Hindrances, while arousing wholesome states that have already arisen (#3) is the topic of The Seven Factors of Awakening. The Five Spiritual Faculties provides the skillful balance of the states of mind necessary to keep all of The Seven Factors of Awakening at optimum levels of effectiveness for liberation.  See also, "Right Effort" in the Path to Freedom pages of the Access to Insight website and Right Effort is Tensionless by Barbara Brodsky.

• The Five Hindrances - When we examine our minds, we will inevitably encounter the root forces of greed, hatred and delusion, which create so much sorrow in the world.  A brief summary is presented of the five hindrances that block the path to liberation and the skillful means that can be employed to counteract each one.  See also, The Five Mental Hindrances and Their Conquest - Selected Texts from the Pali Canon and the Commentaries, compiled and translated by Nyanaponika Thera (The Wheel Publication No. 26).  See also, The Satipatthana Sutta.

• The Seven Factors of Enlightenment - by Nayaka Mahathera Piyadassi.  The seven factors are: sati, mindfulness; dhamma-vicaya, investigation of dhamma; viriya, energy; piti, delight; passadhi, tranquillity; samadhi, concentration; and upekkha, equanimity. These are the factors of mind which support liberation.  Where the scriptures give examples to define Right Effort, these are actually what is chosen to represent the development of the wholesome qualities of mind.  See also, "The Seven Factors of Awakening" in The Wings to Awakening by Thanissaro Bhikkhu for an analysis of the seven factors and their role in the four frames of reference (satipatthana).  See also, "The Factors of Enlightenment" in The Satipatthana Sutta and Its Commentary by Soma Thera for a detailed exposition on each of the seven factors in the ancient commentaries.  See also, The Satipatthana Sutta.

 
• The Way of Wisdom - The Five Spiritual Faculties - by Edward Conze (The Wheel Publication No. 65/66).  "Spiritual progress depends on the emergence of five cardinal virtues -- faith, vigour, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom.  The conduct of the ordinary worldling is governed by his sense-based instincts and impulses. As we progress, new spiritual forces gradually take over, until in the end these five cardinal virtues dominate and shape everything we do, feel and think."  (Edward Conze)  See also, "The Five Faculties" in The Wings to Awakening by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.  See also, "Nine Ways to Sharpen the Mental Faculties" by Ven. Chanmyay Sayadaw.  See also, Balancing the Spiritual Faculties.

 
• On a related topic, see "The Four Bases of Power" in The Wings to Awakening by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.  The four bases of power are desire, persistence, intent, and discrimination.  Each of these four bases has three component parts: the "fabrication of exertion" (which the texts equate with the four exertions of Right Effort), concentration, and the mental quality -- desire, persistence, intent, or discrimination -- on which the concentration is based.  These qualities are necessary for anyone who pursues a path, but are automatically abandoned on reaching the goal at the path's end -- as if one desires to go to the park, and then applies persistence, intent, and discrimination to get there, but when one arrives at the park the particular acts of desire, persistence, intent, and discrimination are allayed.  S.LI.15

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