1 (1) Simple Version

At Sāvatthi. 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.”

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.”

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, 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.”

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, 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; 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 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. “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. “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: ‘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, 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. 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.

“And what, Bhikkhus, is the faculty of concentration? Here, Bhikkhus, the noble disciple gains concentration, gains onepointedness 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.”

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.’

“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 onepointedness 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.

“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.”