The Related Suttas Collection 45.96

9. Abbreviated Texts on the Ganges

Sixth Discourse on Slanting East

“Bhikkhus, all the great rivers—that is, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—slant, slope, and incline towards the east. 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 samādhi, 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.”