AN 5.14 (A iii 10)
Vitthata Sutta
— Extended exposition on the strenghs —
[vitthata]

Here are defined the five balas.


Note: info·bubbles on every Pali word


Pāḷi

English



Pañc·imāni, bhikkhave, balāni. Katamāni pañca? Saddhā-balaṃ, vīriya-balaṃ, sati-balaṃ, samādhi-balaṃ, paññā-balaṃ.

There are, bhikkhus, these five balas. Which five? The bala of saddhā, the bala of vīriya, the bala of sati, the bala of samādhi, the bala of paññā.

Katama·ñca, bhikkhave, saddhā-balaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati Tathāgatassa bodhiṃ:

And what, bhikkhus, is the bala of saddhā? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is convinced, he believes in the bodhi of the Tathāgata:


'itipi so Bhagavā arahaṃ sammā-Sambuddho vijjā-caraṇa-sampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisa-damma-sārathi satthā deva-manussānaṃ Buddho Bhagavā' ti.

Idaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhā-balaṃ.

This, bhikkhus, is what is called the bala of saddhā.

Katama·ñca, bhikkhave, vīriya-balaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddha-vīriyo viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya, kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ upasampadāya thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Idaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriya-balaṃ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the bala of vīriya? Here, bhikkhus, an ariyasāvaka dwells with aroused vīriya to abandon akusala dhammas and to acquire kusala dhammas, he is firm and steadfast in exertion, without abandoning the task regarding kusala dhammas. This, bhikkhus, is what is called the bala of vīriya.

Katama·ñca, bhikkhave, sati-balaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena sati-nepakkena samannāgato, cira-katam-pi cira-bhāsitam-pi saritā anussaritā. Idaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, sati-balaṃ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the bala of sati? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is mindful, endowed with excellent sati and carefulness, he recalls and remembers what was done, what was said long ago. This, bhikkhus, is what is called the bala of sati.

Katama·ñca, bhikkhave, samādhi-balaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako

And what, bhikkhus, is the bala of samādhi? Here, bhikkhus, an ariyasāvaka,

vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pītisukhaṃ paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati;

vitakkavicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ cetaso ekodibhāvaṃ avitakkaṃ avicāraṃ samādhijaṃ pītisukhaṃ dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati;

pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṃvedeti yaṃ taṃ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati;

sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṃ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṃ catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati.



Idaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhi-balaṃ.

This, bhikkhus, is what is called the bala of samādhi.

Katama·ñca, bhikkhave, paññā-balaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti uday-attha-gāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkha'k'khaya-gāminiyā. Idaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññā-balaṃ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the bala of paññā? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is wise, endowed with paññā directed towards arising and passing away, which is noble, penetrating, leading in the right way to the cessation of dukkha.{1} This, bhikkhus, is what is called the bala of paññā.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca balānī ti.

These, bhikkhus, are the five balas.



Bodhi leaf


Note


1. leading in the right way to the cessation of dukkha: or alternatively: leading to the proper cessation of dukkha.



Translation suggested by the webmaster,
with the support of Sister Upalavanna's translation.

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