AN 7 The Book of the Sevens – Sattakanipāta > AN 7.4 Powers in Detail

Numbered Discourses 7.4 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.4

1. Wealth – 1. Dhanavagga

AN 7.4 Powers in Detail – Vitthatabalasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these seven powers.

“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, balāni.

1.2

What seven?

Katamāni satta?

1.3

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

Saddhābalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, 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 …pe… 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 energy?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?

3.2

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.

3.3

This is called the power of energy.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

4.1

And what is the power of conscience?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ?

4.2

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 acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities.

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

4.3

This is called the power of conscience.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ.

5.1

And what is the power of prudence?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ?

5.2

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 the acquiring of any bad, unskillful qualities.

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

5.3

This is called the power of prudence.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

6.1

And what is the power of mindfulness?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ?

6.2

It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago.

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā.

6.3

This is called the power of mindfulness.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ.

7.1

And what is the power of samādhi?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ?

7.2

It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. …

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi

7.3

…pe…

7.4

Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

7.5

This is called the power of samādhi.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ.

8.1

And what is the power of wisdom?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ?

8.2

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.

8.3

This is called the power of wisdom.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

9.1

These are the seven powers.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta balānīti.

10.1

The powers are faith and energy,

Saddhābalaṁ vīriyañca,

10.2

conscience and prudence,

hirī ottappiyaṁ balaṁ;

10.3

mindfulness and samādhi,

Satibalaṁ samādhi ca,

10.4

and wisdom as the seventh power.

paññā ve sattamaṁ balaṁ;

10.5

Empowered by these,

Etehi balavā bhikkhu,

10.6

an astute bhikkhu lives happily.

sukhaṁ jīvati paṇḍito.

11.1

They should examine the teaching rationally,

Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ,

11.2

discerning the meaning with wisdom.

paññāyatthaṁ vipassati;

11.3

The liberation of their heart

Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ,

11.4

is like a lamp going out.”

vimokkho hoti cetaso”ti.

11.5

Catutthaṁ.