SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 48 Linked Discourses on the Faculties – Indriyasaṁyutta > SN 48.43 At Sāketa

Linked Discourses 48.43 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.43

5. Old Age – 5. Jarāvagga

SN 48.43 At Sāketa – Sāketasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāketa in the deer part at the Añjana Wood.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sākete viharati añjanavane migadāye.

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū:

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Bhikkhū, is there a way in which the five faculties become the five powers, and the five powers become the five faculties?”

“atthi nu kho, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma yāni pañcindriyāni tāni pañca balāni honti, yāni pañca balāni tāni pañcindriyāni hontī”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti …pe…

“Bhikkhū, there is a way in which the five faculties become the five powers, and the five powers become the five faculties.

“Atthi, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma yāni pañcindriyāni tāni pañca balāni honti, yāni pañca balāni tāni pañcindriyāni honti.

And what is that method?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma yāni pañcindriyāni tāni pañca balāni honti, yāni pañca balāni tāni pañcindriyāni honti?

The faculty of faith is the power of faith, and the power of faith is the faculty of faith.

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, saddhindriyaṁ taṁ saddhābalaṁ, yaṁ saddhābalaṁ taṁ saddhindriyaṁ;

The faculty of energy is the power of energy, and the power of energy is the faculty of energy.

yaṁ vīriyindriyaṁ taṁ vīriyabalaṁ, yaṁ vīriyabalaṁ taṁ vīriyindriyaṁ;

The faculty of mindfulness is the power of mindfulness, and the power of mindfulness is the faculty of mindfulness.

yaṁ satindriyaṁ taṁ satibalaṁ, yaṁ satibalaṁ taṁ satindriyaṁ;

The faculty of samādhi is the power of samādhi, and the power of samādhi is the faculty of samādhi.

yaṁ samādhindriyaṁ taṁ samādhibalaṁ, yaṁ samādhibalaṁ taṁ samādhindriyaṁ;

The faculty of wisdom is the power of wisdom, and the power of wisdom is the faculty of wisdom.

yaṁ paññindriyaṁ taṁ paññābalaṁ, yaṁ paññābalaṁ taṁ paññindriyaṁ.

Suppose that there was a river slanting, sloping, and inclining to the east, and in the middle was an island.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā, tassa majjhe dīpo.

There’s a way in which that river can be reckoned to have just one stream.

Atthi, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā eko sototveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

But there’s also a way in which that river can be reckoned to have two streams.

Atthi pana, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā dve sotānitveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchanti.

And what’s the way in which that river can be reckoned to have just one stream?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā eko sototveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati?

By taking into account the water to the east and the west of the island,

Yañca, bhikkhave, tassa dīpassa purimante udakaṁ, yañca pacchimante udakaṁ—

that river can be reckoned to have just one stream.

ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā eko sototveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

And what’s the way in which that river can be reckoned to have two streams?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā dve sotānitveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchanti?

By taking into account the water to the north and the south of the island,

Yañca, bhikkhave, tassa dīpassa uttarante udakaṁ, yañca dakkhiṇante udakaṁ—

that river can be reckoned to have two streams.

ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma tassā nadiyā dve sotānitveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchanti.

In the same way, the faculty of faith is the power of faith, and the power of faith is the faculty of faith.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ saddhindriyaṁ taṁ saddhābalaṁ, yaṁ saddhābalaṁ taṁ saddhindriyaṁ;