AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.2 In Detail

Numbered Discourses 5.2 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.2

1. Powers of a Trainee – 1. Sekhabalavagga

AN 5.2 In Detail – Vitthatasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these five powers of a trainee.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, sekhabalāni.

1.2

What five?

Katamāni pañca?

1.3

The powers of faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Saddhābalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

2.1

And what is the power of faith?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ?

2.2

It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:

2.3

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

2.4

This is called the power of faith.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

3.1

And what is the power of conscience?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ?

3.2

It’s when a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about having any bad, unskillful qualities.

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.

3.3

This is called the power of conscience.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ.

4.1

And what is the power of prudence?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ?

4.2

It’s when a noble disciple is prudent. They’re prudent when it comes to bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and prudent when it comes to acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities.

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.

4.3

This is called the power of prudence.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

5.1

And what is the power of energy?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?

5.2

It’s when a bhikkhu 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 akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

5.3

This is called the power of energy.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

6.1

And what is the power of wisdom?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ?

6.2

It’s when a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

6.3

This is called the power of wisdom.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

6.4

These are the five powers of a trainee.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca sekhabalāni.

7.1

So you should train like this:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

7.2

‘We will have the trainee’s powers of faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.’

‘saddhābalena samannāgatā bhavissāma sekhabalena, hirībalena … ottappabalena … vīriyabalena … paññābalena samannāgatā bhavissāma sekhabalenā’ti.

7.3

That’s how you should train.”

Evañhi kho, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

7.4

Dutiyaṁ.