The five faculties restated, then a single condition defining the stream-enterer
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★☆☆ — the title's own "(1st)" marker signals a second, parallel discourse still ahead in this vagga
Why this discourse
This discourse restates the same five faculties named at SN 48.1, then adds a single further condition: a noble disciple who truly understands these five faculties' own gratification (assāda), drawback (ādīnava), and escape (nissaraṇa) is called a stream-enterer — the first of the four stages of awakening — not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
Reading guide
The threefold analytical lens applied to the faculties
Confirmed by direct reading, the discourse's own condition for stream-entry is understanding the five faculties through THREE angles at once: their own gratification (what is enjoyable about them), their own drawback (what is problematic about them), and their own escape (how to be free of clinging to them) — a threefold lens this project has met applied to other objects elsewhere in the canon.
A named stage of awakening, not a vague description
The discourse's own closing formula — “sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo” (“a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening”) — is confirmed by direct reading to be the canon's own standard closing formula for stream-entry, the first of the four stages, applied here specifically to understanding the five faculties.
"(1st)" -- signaling a companion discourse still ahead
This discourse's own title, “Paṭhamasotāpanna-sutta” (“A Stream-Enterer, First Version”), is confirmed by direct reading to signal a second, parallel discourse elsewhere in this vagga — this project will confirm its own exact content when it is reached, rather than assuming its shape in advance.
Key terms
assāda — “gratification” — the first of the threefold lens, what is enjoyable about the five faculties
ādīnava — “drawback” — the second angle of the threefold lens, what is problematic about the five faculties
nissaraṇa — “escape” — the third angle, how to be free of clinging to the five faculties
sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo — “a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening” — the canon's own standard closing formula for the first stage of awakening
ariyasāvako — “noble disciple” — the discourse's own subject, the one who comes to understand the five faculties in this threefold way
The text
The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. A noble disciple comes to truly understand these five faculties’ gratification, drawback, and escape. Such a noble disciple is called a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”
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Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
What threefold lens does this discourse apply to the five faculties?
Correct: A. A threefold analytical lens this project has met applied to other objects elsewhere in the canon.
Question 2 of 3
What stage of awakening does this discourse's own closing formula name?
Correct: A. The canon's own standard closing formula for stream-entry, applied here to understanding the five faculties.
Question 3 of 3
What does the "(1st)" in this discourse's own title signal?
Correct: A. This project will confirm the companion discourse's own exact content when it is reached, not assume its shape in advance.
