Every endeavor requires effort. No matter how much raw talent or passion we have for an undertaking, no progress can be made without effort. Indeed, on the night of his awakening, the Buddha said “I shall not give up my efforts until I have attained whatever is attainable by perseverance, energy, and endeavor.”

Accordingly, he taught Wise or Right Effort as the first of the three factors of the Samadhi or Concentration mind training aspect of the Path. Wise effort provides the energy needed for mind training and right mindfulness the applied collectedness necessary for penetrating or insightful awareness.

Effort must be balanced—like the strings of a musical instrument: neither too loose, nor too tight. Right Effort doesn’t mean “efforting” in a grasping way, but steady, persevering and determined energy.

Right effort is divided in the texts into four “great endeavors,” to: prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states; abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen; to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen; and to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

Unwholesome states require dormant defilements be prevented from erupting and active defilements be expelled. Wholesome states require undeveloped liberating factors be brought into being, developed to full maturity.

Right effort is not to change ourselves, our personalities—it is deeper: to understand our own minds. Through that understanding, we come to know the world as it is—its mystery, joys and sorrows. What effort are you willing to make for your own wisdom and liberation?