Satta saddhamma

Satta saddhammā

— Seven good qualities —
[satta saddhamma]

Seven fundamental qualities that should be mastered by the trainee in order to be successful. Four of these qualities appear also among the five spiritual indriyas and the five balas. Five of them are named Sekha-balas, to which is dedicated the first Vagga of the Pañcaka Nipāta: see for example AN 5.2. At MN 53, the exposition of these qualities appears in lieu of three formulae: Sampajañña, Vivitta Senāsanena Bhajana, and Nīvaraṇānaṃ Pahāna. At AN 7.67, the apt simile of the fortress is very useful to understand how these seven qualities work together to protect the mind from the invasion of akusala dhammas.

Note: info·bubbles on all words

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Convinced —

Ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṃ: itipi so Bhagavā arahaṃ sammā-Sambuddho, vijjā·caraṇa·sampanno, sugato, loka·vidū, anuttaro purisa·damma·sārathi,{1} satthā deva·manussānaṃ, Buddho Bhagavā ti.

The noble disciple is convinced, he believes in the bodhi of the Tathāgata: surely, the Bhagavā is an arahant, a sammā-Sambuddha, accomplished in vijjā and [good] conduct, faring well, knowing the world, the unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed,{1} teacher of devas and humans, a Buddha, a Bhagavā.

Ariyasāvako saddho hoti,	The noble disciple is convinced,
saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṃ:	he believes in the bodhi of the Tathāgata:
Itipi so Bhagavā	surely, the Bhagavā
arahaṃ sammā-Sambuddho,	is an arahant, a sammā-Sambuddha,
vijjā·caraṇa·sampanno,	accomplished in vijjā and [good] conduct,
sugato, loka·vidū,	faring well, knowing the world,
anuttaro purisa·damma·sārathi,{1}	the unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed,{1}
satthā deva·manussānaṃ,	teacher of devas and humans,
Buddho Bhagavā ti.	a Buddha, a Bhagavā.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Bashful —

Hirimā hoti, hirīyati kāya·duccaritena vacī·duccaritena mano·duccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ samāpattiyā.

He is conscientious, he feels hiri towards kāya·duccarita, vacī·duccarita, and mana·duccarita, he feels hiri towards getting into pāpaka akusala dhammas.

Hirimā hoti,	He is conscientious,
hirīyati kāya·duccaritena	he feels hiri towards kāya·duccarita,
vacī·duccaritena mano·duccaritena, hirīyati	vacī·duccarita, and mana·duccarita, he feels hiri towards
pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ samāpattiyā.	getting into pāpaka akusala dhammas.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Cautious —

Ottappī hoti, ottappati kāya·duccaritena vacī·duccaritena mano·duccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ samāpattiyā.

He is cautious, he feels ottappa towards kāya·duccarita vacī·duccarita and of mano·duccarita, he feels ottappa towards getting into pāpaka akusala dhammas.

Ottappī hoti,	He is cautious,
ottappati kāya·duccaritena	he feels ottappa towards kāya·duccarita,
vacī·duccaritena mano·duccaritena, ottappati	vacī·duccarita and mano·duccarita, he feels ottappa towards
pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ samāpattiyā.	getting into pāpaka akusala dhammas.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Very learned —

Bahussuto hoti suta·dharo suta·sannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādi·kalyāṇā majjhe·kalyāṇā pariyosāna·kalyāṇā sātthā sa·byañjanā, kevala·paripuṇṇaṃ parisuddhaṃ brahmacariyaṃ abhivadanti tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manas·ānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā su-p'paṭividdhā.

He is very learned, bearing in mind what he has heard, accumulating what he has heard. Such teachings which are beneficial in the beginning, beneficial in the middle, beneficial in the end, with the [right] meaning and with the [right] phrasing, that reveal the brahmacariya which is completely perfect and pure, such teachings have been heard much of, have been fed on,{1} recited,{2} accumulated, examined with the mind, well penetrated in terms of diṭṭhis.

Bahussuto hoti	He is very learned,
suta·dharo	bearing in mind what he has heard,
suta·sannicayo.	accumulating what he has heard.
Ye te dhammā ādi·kalyāṇā	Such teachings which are beneficial in the beginning,
majjhe·kalyāṇā pariyosāna·kalyāṇā	beneficial in the middle, beneficial in the end,
sātthā sa·byañjanā,	with the [right] meaning and with the [right] phrasing,
	{that reveal the brahmacariya}
kevala·paripuṇṇaṃ parisuddhaṃ	which is completely perfect and pure,
{brahmacariyaṃ abhivadanti}
tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti	such teachings have been heard much of,
dhātā vacasā paricitā	have been fed on,{1} recited,{2} accumulated,
manas·ānupekkhitā	examined with the mind,
diṭṭhiyā su-p'paṭividdhā.	well penetrated in terms of diṭṭhis.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Energetic —

Āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya, kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo a·nikkhitta·dhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

He remains of resolved vīriya for abandoning akusala dhammas, for acquiring kusala dhammas, steadfast, strong in striving, without putting down the yoke as regards to kusala dhammas.

Āraddhavīriyo viharati	He remains of resolved vīriya
akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya,	for abandoning akusala dhammas,
kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ upasampadāya,	for acquiring kusala dhammas,
thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo	steadfast, strong in striving,
a·nikkhitta·dhuro kusalesu dhammesu.	without putting down the yoke as regards to kusala dhammas.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Mindful —

Satimā hoti paramena sati·nepakkena samannāgato, cira·katam·pi cira·bhāsitam·pi saritā anussaritā.

He is mindful, endowed with excellent sati and carefulness, recalling and remembering what was done exactly long ago, what was said exactly long ago.

Satimā hoti	He is mindful,
paramena sati·nepakkena samannāgato,	endowed with excellent sati and carefulness,
	{recalling and remembering}
cira·katam·pi cira·bhāsitam·pi	what was done exactly long ago, what was said exactly long ago.
{saritā anussaritā}.

saddha | hirimā | ottappī | bahussuta | āraddhavīriya | satimā | paññavā

— Wise —

Paññavā hoti uday·attha·gāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkha·k'khaya·gāminiyā.

He is wise, endowed with paññā directed towards arising and passing away, which is noble, penetrating, leading to the correct destruction of dukkha.

Paññavā hoti	He is wise,
uday·attha·gāminiyā paññāya samannāgato	endowed with paññā directed towards arising and passing away,
ariyāya nibbedhikāya	which is noble, penetrating,
sammā dukkha·k'khaya·gāminiyā.	leading to the correct destruction of dukkha.