Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

5: The Book of the Fives

67. Bases for Psychic Potency (1)

1"Bhikkhus, when any bhikkhu or bhikkhunī develops and cultivates five things, one of two fruits is to be expected: either final knowledge in this very life or, if there is a residue remaining, the state of non-returning.

2"What five? (1) Here, a bhikkhu develops the basis for psychic potency that possesses concentration due to desire and activities of striving. (2) He develops the basis for psychic potency that possesses concentration due to energy and activities of striving. (3) He develops the basis for psychic potency that possesses concentration due to mind and activities of striving. (4) He develops the basis for psychic potency that possesses concentration due to investigation and activities of striving. [n.1069] For an analysis of the formula for the four bases, see SN 51:13, V 268–69. (5) Enthusiasm itself is the fifth. [n.1070] The word ussoḷhi, translated here as "enthusiasm," is glossed by Mp with adhimattaviriyaṁ, "exceptional energy."


"When, bhikkhus, any bhikkhu or bhikkhunī develops and cultivates these five things, one of two fruits is to be expected: either final knowledge in this very life or, if there is a residue remaining, the state of non-returning."

1"Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā pañca dhamme bhāveti, pañca dhamme bahulīkaroti, tassa dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ – diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā.

2Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhi … pe … cittasamādhi … vīmaṁsāsamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, ussoḷhiññeva pañcamiṁ.


Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā ime pañca dhamme bhāveti, ime pañca dhamme bahulīkaroti, tassa dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ – diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā"ti.


Sattamaṁ.

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