AN9.5 — Bala Sutta
Disciples, there are these four strengths. What are the four? The strength of wisdom, the strength of energy, the strength of blamelessness, and the strength of support.
And what is the strength of wisdom? It is when one discerns which phenomena are wholesome, classified as wholesome; which phenomena are unwholesome, classified as unwholesome; which phenomena are blameworthy, classified as blameworthy; which phenomena are blameless, classified as blameless; which phenomena are dark, classified as dark; which phenomena are bright, classified as bright; which phenomena are to be cultivated, classified as to be cultivated; which phenomena are not to be cultivated, classified as not to be cultivated; which phenomena are not conducive to the noble path, classified as not conducive to the noble path; which phenomena are conducive to the noble path, classified as conducive to the noble path. These phenomena are clearly understood and articulated by wisdom. This is called the strength of wisdom.
And what is the strength of energy? It is when one generates desire, makes an effort, arouses energy, applies the mind, and strives for the abandoning of unwholesome phenomena, classified as unwholesome; blameworthy phenomena, classified as blameworthy; dark phenomena, classified as dark; phenomena not to be cultivated, classified as not to be cultivated; phenomena not conducive to the noble path, classified as not conducive to the noble path. And for the acquisition of wholesome phenomena, classified as wholesome; blameless phenomena, classified as blameless; bright phenomena, classified as bright; phenomena to be cultivated, classified as to be cultivated; phenomena conducive to the noble path, classified as conducive to the noble path, one generates desire, makes an effort, arouses energy, applies the mind, and strives. This is called the strength of energy.
And what is the strength of blamelessness? Here a noble disciple is endowed with blameless bodily conduct, blameless verbal conduct, and blameless mental conduct. This is called the strength of blamelessness.
And what is the strength of support? There are these four bases of support, disciples: generosity, kindly speech, beneficial conduct, and impartiality. The foremost of generosity is the gift of the Dhamma. The foremost of kindly speech is when one teaches the Dhamma again and again to one who is eager and attentive. The foremost of beneficial conduct is when one encourages, instills, and establishes faith in the faithless, virtue in the immoral, generosity in the stingy, and wisdom in the unwise. The foremost of impartiality is when a stream-enterer is impartial to another stream-enterer, a once-returner to another once-returner, a non-returner to another non-returner, and an arahant to another arahant.
This is called the strength of support. These are the four strengths. A noble disciple endowed with these four strengths has overcome five fears. What are the five? The fear of livelihood, the fear of disrepute, the fear of public speaking, the fear of death, and the fear of a bad destination. That noble disciple reflects thus: I do not fear the fear of livelihood. Why should I fear the fear of livelihood? I possess the four strengths: strength of wisdom, strength of energy, strength of blamelessness, and strength of support. A foolish person would fear the fear of livelihood. A lazy person would fear the fear of livelihood. One with blameworthy bodily, verbal, and mental actions would fear the fear of livelihood. One without support would fear the fear of livelihood. I do not fear the fear of disrepute... I do not fear the fear of public speaking... I do not fear the fear of death... I do not fear the fear of a bad destination. Why should I fear the fear of a bad destination? I possess the four strengths: strength of wisdom, strength of energy, strength of blamelessness, and strength of support. A foolish person would fear the fear of a bad destination. A lazy person would fear the fear of a bad destination. One with blameworthy bodily, verbal, and mental actions would fear the fear of a bad destination. One without support would fear the fear of a bad destination. A noble disciple endowed with these four strengths has overcome these five fears.