Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.2 1.

The Chapter on the Powers of a Trainee

Sekhabalavagga Vitthatasutta “Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, sekhabalāni.

Disciples, there are these five powers of a trainee.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Saddhābalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

The power of faith, the power of conscience, the power of prudence, the power of energy, and the power of wisdom.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ?

And what, disciples, is the power 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 has faith; they have conviction in the Tathāgata’s awakening:

‘That Blessed One is a perfected one, a fully awakened Tathāgata, accomplished in knowing and conduct, well-gone, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

This is called the power of faith.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ?

And what, disciples, is the power of conscience?

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

Here, a noble disciple has a conscience. They are ashamed of bad bodily conduct, bad verbal conduct, and bad mental conduct; they are ashamed of acquiring bad, unskillful qualities.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ.

This is called the power of conscience.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ?

And what, disciples, is the power of prudence?

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

Here, a noble disciple is prudent. They dread bad bodily conduct, bad verbal conduct, and bad mental conduct; they dread acquiring bad, unskillful qualities.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

This is called the power of prudence.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?

And what, disciples, is the power of energy?

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

Here, a noble disciple lives with energy roused for the abandoning of unskillful qualities and the undertaking of skillful qualities; they are strong, firm in exertion, not laying down the burden when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

This is called the power of energy.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ?

And what, disciples, is the power of wisdom?

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

Here, a noble disciple is wise. They are endowed with the wisdom that discerns arising and passing away:noble, penetrative, and leading rightly to the complete ending of suffering.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

This is called the power of wisdom.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca sekhabalāni.

These, disciples, are the five powers of a trainee.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘saddhābalena samannāgatā bhavissāma sekhabalena, hirībalena …

Therefore, disciples, you should train like this:

‘We will be endowed with the power of faith, a trainee’s power; with the power of conscience…

ottappabalena …

the power of prudence…

vīriyabalena …

the power of energy…

paññābalena samannāgatā bhavissāma sekhabalenā’ti.

we will be endowed with the power of wisdom, a trainee’s power.

Evañhi kho, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That is how you should train, disciples.

Dutiyaṁ.

The Second.