Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.4

Numbered Discourses 7.4

1. Dhanavagga

1. Wealth

Vitthatabalasutta

Powers in Detail

“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, balāni. Katamāni satta? Saddhābalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, paññābalaṁ.

“Bhikkhus, there are these seven powers. What seven? The powers of faith, energy, conscience, prudence, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ.

And what is the power of faith? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is called the power of faith.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ.

And what is the power of energy? It’s when a noble disciple lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. This is called the power of energy.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ.

And what is the power of conscience? It’s when a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities. This is called the power of conscience.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.

And what is the power of prudence? It’s when a noble disciple is prudent. They’re prudent when it comes to bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and prudent when it comes to the acquiring of any bad, unskillful qualities. This is called the power of prudence.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ.

And what is the power of mindfulness? It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. This is called the power of mindfulness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ.

And what is the power of immersion? It’s when a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. … Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth jhāna, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is called the power of immersion.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ.

And what is the power of wisdom? It’s when a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. This is called the power of wisdom.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta balānīti.

These are the seven powers.

Saddhābalaṁ vīriyañca, hirī ottappiyaṁ balaṁ; Satibalaṁ samādhi ca, paññā ve sattamaṁ balaṁ; Etehi balavā bhikkhu, sukhaṁ jīvati paṇḍito.

The powers are faith and energy, conscience and prudence, mindfulness and immersion, and wisdom as the seventh power. Empowered by these, an astute bhikkhu lives happily.

Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, paññāyatthaṁ vipassati; Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ, vimokkho hoti cetaso”ti.

They should examine the teaching rationally, discerning the meaning with wisdom. The liberation of their heart is like a lamp going out.”

Catutthaṁ.