- Numbered Discourses 7.4 Aį¹ guttara NikÄya 7.4
- 1. Wealth 1. Dhanavagga
Powers in Detail Vitthatabalasutta
āMendicants, there are these seven powers. āSattimÄni, bhikkhave, balÄni. What seven? KatamÄni satta? The powers of faith, energy, conscience, prudence, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. SaddhÄbalaį¹, vÄ«riyabalaį¹, hirÄ«balaį¹, ottappabalaį¹, satibalaį¹, samÄdhibalaį¹, paƱƱÄbalaį¹.
And what is the power of faith? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, saddhÄbalaį¹? Itās when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized Oneās awakening: Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasÄvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathÄgatassa bodhiį¹: āThat Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.ā āitipi so bhagavÄ arahaį¹ sammÄsambuddho ā¦pe⦠satthÄ devamanussÄnaį¹ buddho bhagavÄāti. This is called the power of faith. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhÄbalaį¹.
And what is the power of energy? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, vÄ«riyabalaį¹? Itās when a noble disciple lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. Theyāre strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasÄvako ÄraddhavÄ«riyo viharati akusalÄnaį¹ dhammÄnaį¹ pahÄnÄya, kusalÄnaį¹ dhammÄnaį¹ upasampadÄya, thÄmavÄ daįø·haparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. This is called the power of energy. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, vÄ«riyabalaį¹.
And what is the power of conscience? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, hirÄ«balaį¹? Itās when a noble disciple has a conscience. Theyāre conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities. Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasÄvako hirÄ«mÄ hoti, hirÄ«yati kÄyaduccaritena vacÄ«duccaritena manoduccaritena, hirÄ«yati pÄpakÄnaį¹ akusalÄnaį¹ dhammÄnaį¹ samÄpattiyÄ. This is called the power of conscience. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirÄ«balaį¹.
And what is the power of prudence? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaį¹? Itās when a noble disciple is prudent. Theyāre 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, ariyasÄvako ottappÄ« hoti, ottappati kÄyaduccaritena vacÄ«duccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pÄpakÄnaį¹ akusalÄnaį¹ dhammÄnaį¹ samÄpattiyÄ. This is called the power of prudence. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaį¹.
And what is the power of mindfulness? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, satibalaį¹? Itās 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, ariyasÄvako satimÄ hoti paramena satinepakkena samannÄgato cirakatampi cirabhÄsitampi saritÄ anussaritÄ. This is called the power of mindfulness. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaį¹.
And what is the power of immersion? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, samÄdhibalaį¹? Itās when a noble disciple, 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, ariyasÄvako vivicceva kÄmehi ā¦pe⦠With the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. catutthaį¹ jhÄnaį¹ upasampajja viharati. This is called the power of immersion. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, samÄdhibalaį¹.
And what is the power of wisdom? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, paƱƱÄbalaį¹? Itās 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, ariyasÄvako paƱƱavÄ hoti udayatthagÄminiyÄ paƱƱÄya samannÄgato ariyÄya nibbedhikÄya sammÄ dukkhakkhayagÄminiyÄ. This is called the power of wisdom. Idaį¹ vuccati, bhikkhave, paƱƱÄbalaį¹.
These are the seven powers. ImÄni kho, bhikkhave, satta balÄnÄ«ti.
The powers are faith and energy, SaddhÄbalaį¹ vÄ«riyaƱca, conscience and prudence, hirÄ« ottappiyaį¹ balaį¹; mindfulness and immersion, Satibalaį¹ samÄdhi ca, and wisdom as the seventh power. paĆ±Ć±Ä ve sattamaį¹ balaį¹; Empowered by these, Etehi balavÄ bhikkhu, an astute mendicant lives happily. sukhaį¹ jÄ«vati paį¹įøito.
They should examine the teaching rationally, Yoniso vicine dhammaį¹, discerning the meaning with wisdom. paƱƱÄyatthaį¹ vipassati; The liberation of their heart Pajjotasseva nibbÄnaį¹, is like a lamp going out.ā vimokkho hoti cetasoāti.
