Sunday, September 28, 2008

Five Good Powers

WQ edit of Nyanaponika Thera's 1970 translation (BPS)*

Meditative development of five powers (Photo: energyenhancement.org)

Five Powers of those in Higher Training

"Recluses, there are Five Powers of of one in Higher Training [Note 1] What are those five? The trainer's power of:
  • Confidence
  • Shame-in-wrongdoing
  • Moral dread
  • Energy
  • Wisdom
"What is the Power of Confidence? Recluses, herein [this Dharma] a noble disciple has conviction: One believes in the enlightenment of the Blessed One. 'This, indeed, is a Tathagata, purified, fully enlightened, endowed with [clear] vision and [pure] behavior, sublime, knower of worlds, incomparable trainer of those to be tamed, teacher of devas and human beings, awakened, and blessed.'

"What is the Power of Shame-in-Wrongdoing? Recluses, herein a noble disciple has a pull of conscience: One feels reservations in deeds, words, and thoughts; one anticipates shame at the mere thought of anything harmful or unwholesome [n.2].

"What is the Power of Moral Dread? Recluses, herein a noble disciple contracts with apprehension at the very notion of unskillful behavior of body, speech, or mind; one experiences trepidation at even the thought of doing anything harmful or unwholesome.

"What is the Power of Energy? Recluses, herein a noble disciple lives with drive and motivation set upon the abandoning of everything unbeneficial and the acquiring of every that's of benefit; one is steadfast and strong in one's efforts, not shirking the task of doing things that are skillful.

"What is the Power of Wisdom? Recluses, herein a noble disciple is discerning; one is furnished with that knowing and seeing which perceives the rise and fall [of phenomena], which is noble and penetrating, and leads to the complete destruction of suffering [n.3].

"Recluses, these are the Five Powers of those in Higher Training. Hence, O recluses, you are wise to train yourselves: 'We will acquire the powers of conviction, conscience, trepidation, motivation, and vision possessed by those in higher training!' Thus would it benefit you to train yourselves!"

NOTES
  1. Sekha-bala: Bala means "powers." A sekha ("one in training" or "a learner") is one who, in the pursuit of the three kinds of training (or sikkha in Virtue, Meditation, and liberating-Wisdom) has attained one of the four supramundane "Paths" (magga, i.e., Stream-entry, Once-returning, Non-returning, or Arhatship). Or it is someone who has attained to one of the three "Fruitions" (phala) pertaining to these Paths. Anyone who has attained the Fourth Fruition -- namely, full enlightenment -- is called an Asekkha, "one who has passed beyond the need of further training."
  2. Whereas shame (hiri) with regard to wrongdoing is motivated by self-respect and is inward-looking, dread (ottappa) with regard to wrongdoing is outward-looking and motivated by respect for others. It is prompted by fear of social consequences such as blame, bad reputation, and punishment.
  3. AN V.12 says: "Of these Five Powers of one in Higher Training, this is the highest, this is the one that hold them all together, namely, the power of wisdom."
(AN V.2 = Anguttara Nikaya or "The Discourse Collection in Numerical Order, Book of the Fives, Discourse 2")

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