<p>Sometimes a look at opposite terms can help.</p>

<p>For <em>avāyāmaṃ</em> we have weakly directed effort:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn11.1/en/sujato#sn11.1:3.3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN11.1:3.3</a>: without working for it or trying hard—</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For <em>avīriyā</em> we have apathetic lethargy:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn60/en/sujato#mn60:21.7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN60:21.7</a>: All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-07T15:20:07.013Z
2020-04-07T15:20:07.013Z
OyaMist
<p>samma padhana (right exertion from 37 bodhi pakkhiya), viriya-indriya, viriya sambojjhanga (of 7 awakening factors), samma vayamo (right effort of noble eightfold path) are equivalent. The slightly different official definition for each term, is meant to highlight a particular aspect of right effort.</p>

<p>You'll notice in the right effort definition (SN 45.8), all of those words are found in the formula (vayamati/vayamo, viriya, padahati/padhana). </p>

<p>Another word that frequently occurs in the suttas, such as in the satipatthana formula, 'ātāpi' (ardency), is a code word that also means the same right effort formula (see AN 4.14 verse at end)
<a href="http://lucid24.org/an/an04/an04-0014/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://lucid24.org/an/an04/an04-0014/index.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-06T15:16:25.550Z
2020-04-06T15:16:25.550Z
frankk
<p>Their contextual use in the suttas is the same, as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>And what is right <strong>effort</strong>? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammā<strong>vāyāmo</strong>?</p>
  
  <p>It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort,
  exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t
  arise. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṃ pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ
  dhammānaṃ anuppādāya chandaṃ janeti <strong>vāyamati vīriyaṃ</strong> ārabhati cittaṃ
  paggaṇhāti padahati,</p>
  
  <p>SN 45.8</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>And what is the faculty of <strong>energy</strong>? Katamañca, bhikkhave,
  <strong>vīriy</strong>indriyaṃ?</p>
  
  <p>It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up
  unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong,
  staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing
  skillful qualities. Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo
  viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya, kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ
  upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.</p>
  
  <p>They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and
  strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. So anuppannānaṃ
  pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ anuppādāya chandaṃ janeti <strong>vāyamati
  vīriyaṃ</strong> ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati</p>
  
  <p>SN 48.10</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The word 'vāyāma' is derived from 'vi + ā + yam' where 'yam' or 'yāma' appears to mean '<em>restraint</em>', '<em>don't do</em>', '<em>reining in</em>' or '<em>control</em>'. One fluent in Pali will need to explain how 'vi + ā' modify 'yāma'.  </p>

<p>The word 'viriya' I guess is derived from 'vīra + ya' and is said to literally mean '<a href="https://suttacentral.net/define/viriya" rel="nofollow noreferrer">state of a strong man</a>'. '<a href="http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?tran_input=vIra&amp;direct=se&amp;script=hk&amp;link=yes&amp;mode=3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vīra</a>' means 'strong', 'brave' or 'heroic' thus 'ya' must mean 'state'. </p>

<p>Therefore, merely guessing, 'viriya' appears to be a 'thing', namely, 'energy'; where as 'vāyāma' appears related to acting or related to a verb, i.e., possibly a '<em>verbal noun</em>'. In other words, in the Pali above, there is the phrase '<em>vāyamati vīriyaṃ</em>'. Here, 'vāyamati' (due to ending in 'ati') is a verb; where as 'vīriyaṃ' is a noun. Thus, the phrase '<em>vāyamati vīriyaṃ</em>' appears to mean: '<em>to exercise energy</em>' or '<em>to exert energy</em>'.  </p>

<p>In summary, 'vayama' appears related to the action of acting; where as 'viriya' appears related to the quality of acting. This said, I could be wrong, here, because I am merely guessing. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-07T11:42:30.493Z
2020-04-07T12:29:59.450Z
2020-04-07T12:29:59.450Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I think of <em>samma-vāyāma</em> (right effort) as following after <em>samma-saṅkappa</em> (right intention or resolve) -- i.e. it's one thing to intend something, another thing to make the corresponding effort.</p>

<p>I think that <em>viriya</em> describes the quality of an effort -- e.g. is it a strong effort, or is it a feeble and ineffective effort?</p>

<p>Wikipedia's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indriya" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Indriya</a> confirms the literal or etymological connection with Indra, but says that in Buddhism it refers to faculties including the six senses. One of the "right efforts" is <em>indriya-samvara</em> i.e. "guarding the sense-doors".</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-07T12:40:09.313Z
2020-04-07T13:10:50.217Z
2020-04-07T13:10:50.217Z
ChrisW
<p>I've heard both of these Pali terms translated to the English term "effort".</p>

<p>1: sammā-vāyāma: the 6th item in the 8-fold path.<br>
2: virya: the 2nd of the 5 faculties/powers/Indrias.</p>

<p>If 2 terms are used instead of 1, they probably represent slightly different concepts but the similarity and difference between these 2 is unclear to me.</p>

<p>My best guess from my fuzzy understanding is ...</p>

<p>Gil Fronsdal has identified virya as being a kind of "heroic effort".
It's part of the 5 Indrias and Indra was the god that ruled the other gods so perhaps this refers to an heroic effort to rule over the hindrances?</p>

<p>sammā-vāyāma is associated with the 4 right exertions.
As such it seems to be about moving away from unwholesome states and towards wholesome states.</p>

<p>The 2 terms seem very similar.
The only difference I can detect is that the "heroic" modifier associated with virya suggests a stronger emphasis on courage and/or aggression.</p>

<p>Is this correct?</p>

<right-effort>
vāyāma vs virya?
# vāyāma vs virya?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-06)

I've heard both of these Pali terms translated to the English term "effort".

1: sammā-vāyāma: the 6th item in the 8-fold path.  
2: virya: the 2nd of the 5 faculties/powers/Indrias.

If 2 terms are used instead of 1, they probably represent slightly different concepts but the similarity and difference between these 2 is unclear to me.

My best guess from my fuzzy understanding is ...

Gil Fronsdal has identified virya as being a kind of "heroic effort".
It's part of the 5 Indrias and Indra was the god that ruled the other gods so perhaps this refers to an heroic effort to rule over the hindrances?

sammā-vāyāma is associated with the 4 right exertions.
As such it seems to be about moving away from unwholesome states and towards wholesome states.

The 2 terms seem very similar.
The only difference I can detect is that the "heroic" modifier associated with virya suggests a stronger emphasis on courage and/or aggression.

Is this correct?

**Tags:** right-effort


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-07. Score: 2

Sometimes a look at opposite terms can help.

For *avāyāmaṃ* we have weakly directed effort:

> [SN11.1:3.3](https://suttacentral.net/sn11.1/en/sujato#sn11.1:3.3): without working for it or trying hard—

For *avīriyā* we have apathetic lethargy:

> [MN60:21.7](https://suttacentral.net/mn60/en/sujato#mn60:21.7): All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-04-06. Score: 1

samma padhana (right exertion from 37 bodhi pakkhiya), viriya-indriya, viriya sambojjhanga (of 7 awakening factors), samma vayamo (right effort of noble eightfold path) are equivalent. The slightly different official definition for each term, is meant to highlight a particular aspect of right effort.

You'll notice in the right effort definition (SN 45.8), all of those words are found in the formula (vayamati/vayamo, viriya, padahati/padhana).

Another word that frequently occurs in the suttas, such as in the satipatthana formula, 'ātāpi' (ardency), is a code word that also means the same right effort formula (see AN 4.14 verse at end)
<http://lucid24.org/an/an04/an04-0014/index.html>


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-04-07. Score: 1

Their contextual use in the suttas is the same, as follows:

> And what is right **effort**? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammā**vāyāmo**?
>
> It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort,
> exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t
> arise. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṃ pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ
> dhammānaṃ anuppādāya chandaṃ janeti **vāyamati vīriyaṃ** ārabhati cittaṃ
> paggaṇhāti padahati,
>
> SN 45.8
>
> ---
>
> And what is the faculty of **energy**? Katamañca, bhikkhave,
> **vīriy**indriyaṃ?
>
> It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up
> unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong,
> staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing
> skillful qualities. Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo
> viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya, kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ
> upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
>
> They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and
> strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. So anuppannānaṃ
> pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ anuppādāya chandaṃ janeti **vāyamati
> vīriyaṃ** ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati
>
> SN 48.10

The word 'vāyāma' is derived from 'vi + ā + yam' where 'yam' or 'yāma' appears to mean '*restraint*', '*don't do*', '*reining in*' or '*control*'. One fluent in Pali will need to explain how 'vi + ā' modify 'yāma'.

The word 'viriya' I guess is derived from 'vīra + ya' and is said to literally mean '[state of a strong man](https://suttacentral.net/define/viriya)'. '[Vīra](http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?tran_input=vIra&direct=se&script=hk&link=yes&mode=3)' means 'strong', 'brave' or 'heroic' thus 'ya' must mean 'state'.

Therefore, merely guessing, 'viriya' appears to be a 'thing', namely, 'energy'; where as 'vāyāma' appears related to acting or related to a verb, i.e., possibly a '*verbal noun*'. In other words, in the Pali above, there is the phrase '*vāyamati vīriyaṃ*'. Here, 'vāyamati' (due to ending in 'ati') is a verb; where as 'vīriyaṃ' is a noun. Thus, the phrase '*vāyamati vīriyaṃ*' appears to mean: '*to exercise energy*' or '*to exert energy*'.

In summary, 'vayama' appears related to the action of acting; where as 'viriya' appears related to the quality of acting. This said, I could be wrong, here, because I am merely guessing.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-04-07. Score: 0

I think of *samma-vāyāma* (right effort) as following after *samma-saṅkappa* (right intention or resolve) -- i.e. it's one thing to intend something, another thing to make the corresponding effort.

I think that *viriya* describes the quality of an effort -- e.g. is it a strong effort, or is it a feeble and ineffective effort?

Wikipedia's [Indriya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indriya) confirms the literal or etymological connection with Indra, but says that in Buddhism it refers to faculties including the six senses. One of the "right efforts" is *indriya-samvara* i.e. "guarding the sense-doors".


---

