The Connected Discourses of the Buddha

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by Bhikkhu Bodhi


  Thus the subchapter is recited.

  [191] VII. DILIGENCE

  63 (1)-72 (10) The Tathāgata, Etc.

  (To be elaborated by way of the establishments of mindfulness parallel to 45:139-48.)

  Tathāgata, footprint, roof peak,

  Roots, heartwood, jasmine,

  Monarch, the moon and sun,

  Together with the cloth as tenth.

  VIII. STRENUOUS DEEDS

  73 (1)-84 (12) Strenuous, Etc.184

  (To be elaborated parallel to 45:149-60.)

  Strenuous, seeds, and nāgas,

  The tree, the pot, the spike,

  The sky, and two on clouds,

  The ship, guest house, and river.

  IX. SEARCHES

  85 (1)-94 (10) Searches, Etc.

  (To be elaborated parallel to 45:161-70.)

  Searches, discriminations, taints,

  Kinds of existence, threefold suffering,

  Barrenness, stains, and troubles,

  Feelings, craving, and thirst.185

  X. FLOODS

  95 (1)-103 (9) Floods, Etc.

  (To be elaborated parallel to 45:171-79.)

  104 (10) Higher Fetters

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five higher fetters. What five? Lust for form, lust for the formless, conceit, restlessness, [192] ignorance. These are the five higher fetters. The four establishments of mindfulness are to be developed for direct knowledge of these five higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

  “What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. These four establishments of mindfulness are to be developed for direct knowledge of these five higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.”

  Floods, bonds, kinds of clinging,

  Knots, and underlying tendencies,

  Cords of sensual pleasure, hindrances,

  Aggregates, fetters lower and higher.

  The Connected Discourses on the Establishments of Mindfulness is to be elaborated in the same way as the Connected Discourses on the Path.186

  [193]

  Chapter IV

  48 Indriyasaṃyutta

  Connected Discourses on the Faculties

  I. SIMPLE VERSION

  1 (1) Simple Version

  At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.”187

  2 (2) Stream-Enterer (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, the faculty of wisdom.

  “When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple understands as they really are the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five faculties, then he is called a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination.”188

  3 (3) Stream-Enterer (2)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple understands as they really are the origin and the passing away, the gratification, the danger, [194] and the escape in the case of these five faculties, then he is called a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination.”

  4 (4) Arahant (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “When, bhikkhus, having understood as they really are the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five faculties, a bhikkhu is liberated by nonclinging, then he is called a bhikkhu who is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached his own goal, utterly destroyed the fetters of existence, one completely liberated through final knowledge.”189

  5 (5) Arahant (2)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “When, bhikkhus, having understood as they really are the origin and the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five faculties, a bhikkhu is liberated by nonclinging, then he is called a bhikkhu who is an arahant … one completely liberated through final knowledge.”

  6 (6) Ascetics and Brahmins (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “Those ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who do not understand as they really are the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of these five faculties: these I do not consider to be ascetics among ascetics or brahmins among brahmins, [195] and these venerable ones do not, by realizing it for themselves with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism or the goal of brahminhood.

  “But, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who understand these things: these I consider to be ascetics among ascetics and brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones, by realizing it for themselves with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood.”

  7 (7) Ascetics and Brahmins (2)

  “Those ascetics or brahmins, bhikkhus, who do not understand the faculty of faith, its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation;190 who do not understand the faculty of energy … the faculty of mindfulness … the faculty of concentration … the faculty of wisdom, its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation: these I do not consider to be ascetics among ascetics or brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones do not, by realizing it for themselves with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism or the goal of brahminhood.

  “But, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who understand [196] these things … in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood.”

  8 (8) To Be Seen

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “And where, bhikkhus, is the faculty of faith to be seen? The faculty of faith is to be seen here in the four factors of stream-entry.191

  “And where, bhikkhus, is the faculty of energy to be seen? The faculty of energy is to be seen here in the four right strivings.192

  “And where, bhikkhus, is the faculty of mindfulness to be seen? The faculty of mindfulness is to be seen here in the four establishments of mindfulness.

  “And where, bhikkhus, is the faculty of concentration to be seen? The faculty of concentration is to be seen here in the four jhānas.

  “And where, bhikkhus, is the faculty of wisdom to be seen? The faculty of wisdom is to be seen here in the Four Noble Truths.

  “These, bhikkhus, are the five faculties.”

  9 (9) Analysis (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of faith? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is a person of faith, one who places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus: [197] ‘The Blessed One is an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’

  “And what, bhikkh
us, is the faculty of energy? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and the acquisition of wholesome states; he is strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the responsibility of cultivating wholesome states. This is called the faculty of energy.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of mindfulness? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is mindful, possessing supreme mindfulness and discretion, one who remembers and recollects what was done and said long ago. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.193

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of concentration? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple gains concentration, gains one-pointedness of mind, having made release the object.194 This is called the faculty of concentration.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of wisdom? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is wise; he possesses wisdom directed to arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering.195 This is called the faculty of wisdom.

  “These, bhikkhus, are the five faculties.”196

  10 (10) Analysis (2)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of faith? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is a person of faith, one who places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus: ‘The Blessed One is … teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ [198]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of energy? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and the acquisition of wholesome states; he is strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the responsibility of cultivating wholesome states. He generates desire for the nonarising of unarisen evil unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. He generates desire for the maintenance of arisen wholesome states, for their nondecay, increase, expansion, and fulfilment by development; he makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. This is called the faculty of energy.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of mindfulness? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is mindful, possessing supreme mindfulness and discretion, one who remembers and recollects what was done and said long ago. He dwells contemplating the body in the body … feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of concentration? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple gains concentration, gains one-pointedness of mind, having made release the object. Secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, he enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. With the subsiding of thought and examination, he enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without thought and examination, and has rapture and happiness born of concentration. With the fading away as well of rapture, he dwells equanimous and, mindful and clearly comprehending, he experiences happiness with the body; he enters and dwells in the third jhāna of which the noble ones declare: ‘He is equanimous, mindful, one who dwells happily.’ With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous passing away of joy and displeasure, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is neither painful nor pleasant and includes the purification of mindfulness by equanimity. This is called the faculty of concentration. [199]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of wisdom? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is wise; he possesses wisdom directed to arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering. He understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ This is called the faculty of wisdom.

  “These, bhikkhus, are the five faculties.”

  II. WEAKER THAN THAT

  11 (1) Obtainment

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of faith? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is a person of faith, one who places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus: ‘The Blessed One is … teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ This is called the faculty of faith.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of energy? The energy that one obtains on the basis of197 the four right strivings. This is called the faculty of energy. [200]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of mindfulness? The mindfulness that one obtains on the basis of the four establishments of mindfulness. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of concentration? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple gains concentration, gains one-pointedness of mind, having made release the object. This is called the faculty of concentration.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the faculty of wisdom? Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple is wise; he possesses wisdom directed to arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering. This is called the faculty of wisdom.

  “These, bhikkhus, are the five faculties.”

  12 (2) In Brief (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.

  “One who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is an arahant. If they are weaker than that, one is a nonreturner; if still weaker, a once-returner; if still weaker, a stream-enterer; if still weaker, a Dhamma-follower; if still weaker, a faith-follower.”198

  13 (3) In Brief (2)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.

  “One who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is an arahant. If they are weaker than that, one is a nonreturner… a once-returner… a stream-enterer… a Dhamma-follower … a faith-follower.

  “Thus, bhikkhus, due to a difference in the faculties there is a difference in the fruits; due to a difference in the fruits199 there is a difference among persons.” [201]

  14 (4) In Brief (3)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.

  “One who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is an arahant. If they are weaker than that, one is… a faith-follower.

  “Thus, bhikkhus, one who activates them fully succeeds fully; one who activates them partly succeeds partly. The five faculties, bhikkhus, are not barren, so I say.”200

  15 (5) In Detail (1)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty of faith … the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.

  “One who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is an arahant. If they are weaker than that, one is an attainer of Nibbāna in the interval; if still weaker, an attainer of Nibbāna upon landing; if still weaker, an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion; if still weaker, an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion; if still weaker, one who is bound upstream, heading towards the Akaniṭṭha realm; if still weaker, a once-returner; if still weaker, a stream-enterer; if still weaker, a Dhamma-follower; if still weaker, a faith-follower.”201

  16 (6) In Detail (2)

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculty
of faith … the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.

  “One who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is an arahant. If they are weaker than that, one is an attainer of Nibbāna in the interval … (as in §15) … if still weaker, a faith-follower.

 

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