1. Sekhabalavagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.2

Numbered Discourses 5.2

1. Sekhabalavagga

1. Powers of a Trainee

Vitthatasutta

In Detail

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, sekhabalāni.

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

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Saddhābalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

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

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ?

And what is the power of faith?

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

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

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

‘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.’

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

This is called the power of faith.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ?

And what is the power of conscience?

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

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.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ.

This is called the power of conscience.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ?

And what is the power of prudence?

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

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.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

This is called the power of prudence.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?

And what is the power of energy?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

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.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

This is called the power of energy.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ?

And what is the power of wisdom?

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

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.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

This is called the power of wisdom.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca sekhabalāni.

These are the five powers of a trainee.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

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

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

Evañhi kho, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Dutiyaṁ.