AN 8.28 Bala Sutta

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AN 8.28 Bala Sutta : Strengths
Then Ven. Sariputta went to the Lord Buddha and, on arrival, bowed down to him and sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Lord Buddha said to him, "Sariputta, how many are the strengths of a monk whose defilements are ended, endowed with which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me'?"

"Eight, lord, are the strengths of a monk whose defilements are ended, endowed with which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.' Which eight?

"There is the case where the inconstancy of all fabrications as they have come to be is well seen with right discernment by a monk whose defilements are ended. The fact that the inconstancy of all fabrications as they have come to be is well seen with right discernment by a monk whose defilements are ended is a strength of a monk whose defilements are ended, with reference to which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'

"Furthermore, sensual passions as they have come to be are well seen with right discernment as analogous to hot charcoals by a monk whose defilements are ended. The fact that sensual passions as they have come to be are well seen with right discernment as analogous to hot charcoals by a monk whose defilements are ended is also a strength of a monk whose defilements are ended, with reference to which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'

"Furthermore, the mind of a monk whose defilements are ended inclines toward seclusion, leans toward seclusion, tends toward seclusion, stays in seclusion, delights in renunciation, entirely rid of the qualities that act as a basis for the defilements. The fact that the mind of a monk whose defilements are ended inclines toward seclusion, leans toward seclusion, tends toward seclusion, stays in seclusion, delights in renunciation, entirely rid of the qualities that act as a basis for the defilements is also is a strength of a monk whose defilements are ended, with reference to which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'

"Furthermore, the four establishings of mindfulness(1) are developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended. The fact that the four establishings of mindfulness are developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended is also is a strength of a monk whose defilements are ended, with reference to which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'

"Furthermore, the four bases of power are developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended...

"Furthermore, the five faculties are developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended...

"Furthermore, the seven factors for Awakening are developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended...

"Furthermore, the noble eightfold path is developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended. The fact that the noble eightfold path is developed, well-developed by a monk whose defilements are ended is also is a strength of a monk whose defilements are ended, with reference to which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'

"These, lord, are the eight strengths of a monk whose defilements are ended, endowed with which he affirms the ending of the defilements (thus): 'The defilements are ended in me.'"

Notes:

1.This and the remaining strengths constitute six of the seven lists of qualities that make up the Wings to Awakening. The one missing list is the five strengths. There may be two reasons for why it is not listed here. The first, suggested by AN4.163, is that the five strengths pertain to the lower levels of noble attainment — stream-entry through non-returning — whereas the five faculties, which cover the same qualities as the five strengths (conviction, persistence, mindfulness, concentration/trance, and discernment), constitute a higher intensity of these qualities pertaining exclusively to arahantship. The second possible reason is that listing the five strengths as one of eight strengths would have been confusing.