Right Effort : The process of transcending suffering completely

Abstract

This academic article analyzes Sammā Vāyāma (Right Effort), a key component of the Noble Eightfold Path, as a systematic process for overcoming suffering. The study introduces a new conceptual framework called the GAIN Model, which reinterprets traditional Buddhist teachings into a practical and contemporary format. GAIN stands for Guard (preventing unwholesome states), Abandon (letting go of existing unwholesome states), Initiate (cultivating wholesome states), and Nurture (maintaining and strengthening existing wholesomeness). Each step is designed to address different aspects of suffering—by preventing its arising, abandoning its causes, generating new well-being, and sustaining inner growth—while integrating physical, mental, and social dimensions in harmony. The analysis is grounded in a deep understanding of dukkha (suffering), both as worldly experience (vedanā) and as a universal truth (ariya-sacca). It emphasizes that Sammā Vāyāma should not be seen merely as moral effort, but as intelligent perseverance guided by wisdom, aimed at dismantling the roots of suffering through tailored practice. The GAIN framework thus represents a new body of applied knowledge that bridges classical Dhamma with modern life. It offers a concrete path of practice—accessible to both individuals and communities—that fosters inner peace, resilience, and liberation from suffering in a sustainable way.