| Translations of vīrya | |
|---|---|
| English | diligence, energy, perseverance, enthusiasm, sustained effort, help |
| Sanskrit | वीर्य (IAST:vīrya) |
| Pali | विरिय (viriya) |
| Burmese | ဝီရိယ (MLCTS:wə rḭ ja̰) |
| Chinese | 勤(T) / 勤(S), 精進(T) / 精进(S) |
| Japanese | 精進 (Rōmaji:shōjin) |
| Khmer | ថាមពល (UNGEGN:thamôpôl) |
| Korean | 근,정진 (RR:geun, jeongjin) |
| Sinhala | වීර්යය |
| Tibetan | བརྩོན་འགྲུས། (Wylie: brtson 'grus; THL: tsöndrü) |
| Tagalog | birisa |
| Vietnamese | Tinh Tấn |
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Vīrya (Sanskrit;Pali:viriya) is aBuddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accomplish wholesome orvirtuous actions.
Vīrya literally means "state of a strong human" or "manliness."[1] InVedic literature, the term is associated with heroism and virility.
InBuddhism,virya refers to a practitioner's "energy",[2][3][4] "persistence",[4][5] "persevering,"[6] "vigour", "effort", "diligence",[7][8] or "exertion", and is repeatedly identified as a necessary prerequisite for achieving liberation.
Within the Buddhist Abhidharma teachings,virya is identified as:
In this context,virya is defined as the attitude of gladly engaging in what is wholesome; its function is to cause one to accomplish wholesome actions.[7][8]
TheAbhidharma-samuccaya states:
In the context of the Mahayana Abhidharma,virya is commonly translated as diligence.[7]
InBuddhism'sPali literature,viriya is identified as critical component in each of the following sets of qualities conducive toEnlightenment (bodhi-pakkhiyā-dhammā):
It is also associated with "Right Effort" (sammā-vāyāma) of theNoble Eightfold Path (Pāli:aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo;Skt.:aṣṭāṅga mārga) and with the "Four Right Exertions" (samma-ppadhāna).
In theKīṭāgiri Sutta (MN 70), the Buddha instructs his followers:
Viriya stands for strenuous and sustained effort to overcome unskillful ways (akusala dhamma), such as indulging in sensuality, ill will and harmfulness (see, e.g.,ahiṃsā andnekkhamma).[citation needed]
Viriya can also be aroused by strong feelings ofsaṃvega and the practice of thecharnel ground meditations as outlined in theSatipatthana sutta.
It stands for the right endeavour to attaindhyāna.[citation needed]
Vīrya can also signify courage and physical strength and was cultivated by Buddhist guardians including theShaolin monks. It signifies strength of character and persistent effort for the well-being of others as well as the ability to defend theTriratna from attacks.[9]
In the absence of sustained effort in practicing meditation, craving creeps in and the meditator comes under its influence. Right effort (vīryabala) is thus required to overcome unskillful mental factors and deviation fromdhyāna.[citation needed]
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