The Buddha explains how to transform the grounds for laziness to being grounds for arousing energy.

Grounds for Laziness

"Bhikkhus, there are eight grounds of laziness. What are these eight?

  1. Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has work to be done. He thinks, ‘I have work to do, but doing this work will make my body tired. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the first ground of laziness.

  2. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has completed some work. He thinks, ‘I have done my work, but doing it has made my body tired. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the second ground of laziness.

  3. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has a path to travel. He thinks, ‘I have a path to travel, but traveling it will make my body tired. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the third ground of laziness.

  4. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has traveled a path. He thinks, ‘I have traveled the path, but doing so has made my body tired. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth ground of laziness.

  5. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, while going for alms in a village or town, does not obtain sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. He thinks, ‘While going for alms in a village or town, I did not obtain sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. My body is tired and unfit for work. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the fifth ground of laziness.

  6. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, while going for alms in a village or town, obtains sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. He thinks, ‘While going for alms in a village or town, I obtained sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. My body feels heavy, unfit for work, and overstuffed. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the sixth ground of laziness.

  7. Again, bhikkhus, a slight illness arises in a bhikkhu. He thinks, ‘This slight illness has arisen in me. It is suitable to lie down.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the seventh ground of laziness.

  8. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has recently recovered from an illness. He thinks, ‘I have recently recovered from my illness. My body is weak and unfit for work. Let me lie down instead.’ He then lies down, not arousing energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the eighth ground of laziness.

Grounds for Arousing Energy

Bhikkhus, there are eight grounds for arousing energy. What are these eight?

  1. Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has work to be done. He thinks, ‘I have work to do. While doing this work, it is not easy to keep the teachings of the Buddhas in mind. Therefore, let me immediately arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the first ground for arousing energy.

  2. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has completed some work. He thinks, ‘I have done my work, but while doing it, I could not pay attention to the teachings of the Buddhas. Therefore, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the second ground for arousing energy.

  3. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has a path to travel. He thinks, ‘I** have a path to travel, but while traveling it, it is not easy to keep the teachings of the Buddhas in mind.** Therefore, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the third ground for arousing energy.

  4. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has traveled a path. He thinks, ‘I have traveled the path, but while doing so, I could not keep the teachings of the Buddhas in mind. Therefore, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth ground for arousing energy.

  5. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, while going for alms in a village or town, does not obtain sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. He thinks, ‘While going for alms in a village or town, I did not obtain sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. My body is light and fit for work. Therefore, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the fifth ground for arousing energy.

  6. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, while going for alms in a village or town, obtains sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. He thinks, ‘While going for alms in a village or town, I obtained sufficient food, whether coarse or excellent. My body is strong and fit for work. Therefore, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the sixth ground for arousing energy.

  7. Again, bhikkhus, a slight illness arises in a bhikkhu. He thinks, ‘This slight illness has arisen in me. There is a possibility that it might worsen. Therefore, let me immediately arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the seventh ground for arousing energy.

  8. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has recently recovered from an illness. He thinks, ‘I have recently recovered from my illness. There is a possibility that it might relapse. Therefore, let me immediately arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been achieved, for realizing what has not yet been realized.’ He then arouses energy. This, bhikkhus, is the eighth ground for arousing energy.

These, bhikkhus, are the eight grounds for arousing energy.

A strong arousing of energy positively correlates to the realization of Nibbāna in this very life (see AN 4.169). Similarly, a soft arousing of energy correlates to the realization of Nibbāna after the breakup of the body.

Related Teachings:

A Discourse on Eating, Feelings, and Diligence (MN 70) - The Buddha starts out by advising the bhikkhus to eat only during the day, without having a meal at night, explaining the interplay of how pleasant, painful and neither-pleasant-nor-painful feelings can lead to furthering of unwholesome or wholesome states. He then shares on the seven kinds of persons and which kinds must act with diligence. The Buddha concludes by describing how final knowledge is attained gradually.

A Bucket of Rice (SN 3.13) - When King Pasenadi arrives huffing and puffing, the Buddha advises him on moderation in eating.

Four Types of Exertions (AN 4.169) - In this teaching, the Buddha shares on the correlation of the strength of the development of faculties to whether an individual realizes Nibbāna in this very life or after the breakup of the body (i.e. at death or in a future life).

Contentment in robes, food, living, and delight in development (AN 4.28) - In this teaching, the Buddha is sharing on cultivating contentment with any kinds of robes, (alms) food, and lodging, and in diligently practicing to develop wholesome qualities and to abandon unwholesome qualities.