Vīrya (Sanskrit; Pali: viriya) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help".
In Buddhism, 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.
[7] In Buddhism's Pali literature, viriya is identified as critical component in each of the following sets of qualities conducive to Enlightenment (bodhi-pakkhiyā-dhammā): It is also associated with "Right Effort" (sammā-vāyāma) of the Noble Eightfold Path (Pāli: aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; Skt.
In the Kīṭāgiri 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 and nekkhamma).
[citation needed] Viriya can also be aroused by strong feelings of saṃvega and the practice of the charnel ground meditations as outlined in the Satipatthana sutta.