• Numbered Discourses 7.4 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 7.4
  • 1. Wealth 1. Dhanavagga

Powers in Detail Vitthatabalasutta

ā€œMendicants, there are these seven powers. ā€œSattimāni, bhikkhave, balāni. What seven? Katamāni satta? The powers of faith, energy, conscience, prudence, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. Saddhābalaṁ, vÄ«riyabalaṁ, hirÄ«balaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, paƱƱābalaṁ.

And what is the power of faith? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ā€˜That 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€˜itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. This is called the power of faith. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

And what is the power of energy? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, vÄ«riyabalaṁ? It’s when a noble disciple 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 āraddhavÄ«riyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daįø·haparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. This is called the power of energy. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vÄ«riyabalaṁ.

And what is the power of conscience? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, hirÄ«balaṁ? 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 hirÄ«mā hoti, hirÄ«yati kāyaduccaritena vacÄ«duccaritena manoduccaritena, hirÄ«yati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. This is called the power of conscience. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirÄ«balaṁ.

And what is the power of prudence? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ? 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 ottappÄ« hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacÄ«duccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. This is called the power of prudence. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

And what is the power of mindfulness? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ? 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. This is called the power of mindfulness. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ.

And what is the power of immersion? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ? It’s 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, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …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. catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. This is called the power of immersion. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ.

And what is the power of wisdom? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, paƱƱābalaṁ? 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 paƱƱavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paƱƱāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. This is called the power of wisdom. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paƱƱābalaṁ.

These are the seven powers. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta balānīti.

The powers are faith and energy, Saddhābalaṁ vÄ«riyaƱca, conscience and prudence, hirÄ« ottappiyaṁ balaṁ; mindfulness and immersion, Satibalaṁ samādhi ca, and wisdom as the seventh power. paƱƱā ve sattamaṁ balaṁ; Empowered by these, Etehi balavā bhikkhu, an astute mendicant lives happily. sukhaṁ jÄ«vati paį¹‡įøito.

They should examine the teaching rationally, Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, discerning the meaning with wisdom. paƱƱāyatthaṁ vipassati; The liberation of their heart Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ, is like a lamp going out.ā€ vimokkho hoti cetasoā€ti.