Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.14 2.

The Expanded Discourse

Balavagga Vitthatasutta “Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, balāni.

Disciples, there are these five strengths.

Katamāni pañca?

What are the five?

Saddhābalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

The strength of faith, the strength of energy, the strength of mindfulness, the strength of concentration, the strength of wisdom.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ?

And what is the strength of faith?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

Here a noble disciple is faithful, having faith in the enlightenment of the Tathagata: The Blessed One is indeed the worthy one, the perfectly enlightened one, accomplished in true knowing and conduct, the fortunate one, knower of the worlds, incomparable leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened, blessed.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

This is called the strength of faith, disciples.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?

And what is the strength of energy?

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

Here a noble disciple dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states, for the attainment of wholesome states, strong, firm in effort, not laying down the burden in wholesome states.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

This is called the strength of energy, disciples.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ?

And what is the strength of mindfulness?

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

Here a noble disciple is mindful, possessing supreme mindfulness and discernment, remembering and recalling what was done and said long ago.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ.

This is called the strength of mindfulness, disciples.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ?

And what is the strength of concentration?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

Here a noble disciple, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhana, which is accompanied by directed and sustained attention, with pīti and pleasure born of seclusion; with the subsiding of directed and sustained attention, he enters and dwells in the second jhana, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without directed and sustained attention, and has pīti and pleasure born of concentration; with the fading away of pīti, he dwells equanimous, mindful, and fully aware, and experiences pleasure with the body; he enters and dwells in the third jhana, of which the noble ones declare: He dwells equanimous, mindful, and fully aware, experiencing pleasure with the body; with the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhana, which is neither painful nor pleasant and includes the purification of mindfulness by equanimity.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ.

This is called the strength of concentration, disciples.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ?

And what is the strength of wisdom?

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

Here a noble disciple is wise, possessing wisdom that leads to the arising and passing away, noble and penetrating, leading to the complete destruction of suffering.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

This is called the strength of wisdom, disciples.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca balānī”ti. Catutthaṁ.

These are the five strengths.