AN5.14 — The Expanded Discourse

Disciples, there are these five strengths.

What are the five?

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

And what is the strength of faith?

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.

This is called the strength of faith, disciples.

And what is the strength of energy?

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.

This is called the strength of energy, disciples.

And what is the strength of mindfulness?

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

This is called the strength of mindfulness, disciples.

And what is the strength of concentration?

Here a noble disciple, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhana, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion;

with the subsiding of applied and sustained thought, he enters and dwells in the second jhana, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without applied and sustained thought, and has rapture and pleasure born of concentration;

with the fading away of rapture, 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.

This is called the strength of concentration, disciples.

And what is the strength of wisdom?

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.

This is called the strength of wisdom, disciples.

These are the five strengths.

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