Reading guide
SN 48.9's own definitions, now written out in full
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own opening for each faculty is WORD FOR WORD identical to SN 48.9's own — but where SN 48.9 stopped at a brief general statement, this discourse continues into the FULL canonical formula for four of the five: the complete four right efforts, the complete fourfold mindfulness observation, all four absorptions described in full, and the four noble truths spelled out by name.
Confirming SN 48.8's own mapping, written out at last
This project's own SN 48.8 mapped each faculty onto a fourfold home without spelling any of them out — this discourse is confirmed by direct reading to WRITE OUT four of those five homes in full: the four right efforts for energy, the four kinds of mindfulness meditation for mindfulness, the four absorptions for immersion, and the four noble truths for wisdom, leaving only faith's own home (the four factors of stream-entry) still unwritten in this vagga.
The close of Suddhikavagga, confirmed by colophon and uddāna
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own closing colophon (“Suddhikavaggo paṭhamo”, “the first vagga, Suddhikavagga, is finished”) and its own uddāna — naming, in sequence, the plain version, two on stream-enterers, two more on the perfected, ascetics and brahmins, should be seen, and two more on analysis — match this project's own SN 48.1 through SN 48.10 exactly, item for item.
Key terms
The text
§1 — faith“Mendicants, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. And what is the faculty 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 fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is called the faculty of faith.
§2 — energy, in fullAnd what is the faculty 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. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. This is called the faculty of energy.
§3 — mindfulness, in fullAnd what is the faculty 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. They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.
§4 — immersion, in fullAnd what is the faculty of immersion? It’s when a noble disciple, relying on letting go, gains immersion, gains unification of mind. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ With the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is called the faculty of immersion.
§5 — wisdom, in fullAnd what is the faculty 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. They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is called the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.