Reading guide
The same scale, a third time, a third closing
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse repeats the identical six-level scale already met at SN 48.12 and SN 48.13 — but its own closing generalization differs from both: neither absent (as at SN 48.12) nor the disparity-chain (as at SN 48.13), but a new statement about partial and full practice.
Partial practice, partial success -- proportionality, not futility
The discourse's own phrase “paripūraṁ paripūrakārī ārādheti, padesaṁ padesakārī ārādheti” (“one who practices fully succeeds fully, one who practices partially succeeds partially”) is confirmed by direct reading to state a PROPORTIONAL relationship between effort and result, not an all-or-nothing one.
"Not barren" -- an explicit assurance against futility
Confirmed by direct reading, the discourse's own final line — “avañjhāni... pañcindriyāni” (“these five faculties are not barren”) — is stated as the Buddha's own direct assurance (“I say”), explicitly ruling out the possibility that partial effort at the five faculties could be wasted or fruitless.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. These are the five faculties. Someone who has completed and fulfilled these five faculties is a perfected one. If they are weaker than that, they’re a non-returner … a once-returner … a stream-enterer … a follower of teachings … a follower by faith. So, mendicants, if you practice partially you succeed partially. If you practice fully you succeed fully. But in any case, these five faculties are not barren, I say.”
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