The Related Suttas Collection 45.152

12. Hard Work

Trees

“Bhikkhus, suppose a tree slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. If it was cut off at the root, where would it fall?”

“Sir, it would fall in the direction that it slants, slopes, and inclines.”

“In the same way, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path slants, slopes, and inclines to Nibbana.

And how does a bhikkhu who develops the noble eightfold path slant, slope, and incline to Nibbana? It’s when a bhikkhu develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path slants, slopes, and inclines to Nibbana.”