Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
I: Sekhabala-Vagga
Sutta 2
Vitthara Sutta
Strengths — in Detail
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
[1][pts][olds][bodh] "Monks, there are these five strengths for one in training.
Which five?
Strength of conviction,
strength of a sense of shame,
strength of a sense of compunction,
strength of persistence, and
strength of discernment.
§
"And what is strength of conviction?
There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, has conviction, is convinced of the Tathāgata's Awakening:
'Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in clear-knowing and conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the cosmos, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the teacher of devas and human beings, awakened, blessed.'
This, monks, is called the strength of conviction.
■
"And what is the strength of a sense of shame?
There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones feels shame at [the thought of engaging in] bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct.|| ||
He feels shame at falling into evil, unskillful actions.
This is called the strength of a sense of shame.
■
"And what is the strength of a sense of compunction?
There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones feels compunction at [the suffering that would result from] bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct.
This is called the strength of a sense of compunction.
■
"And what is the strength of persistence?
There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, keeps his persistence aroused for abandoning unskillful qualities and taking on skillful qualities.
He is steadfast, solid in his effort, not shirking his duties with regard to skillful qualities.
This is called the strength of persistence.
■
"And what is the strength of discernment?
There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, is discerning, endowed with discernment of arising and passing away — noble, penetrating, leading to the right ending of stress.
This is called the strength of discernment.
"These, monks, are the five strengths of one in training.
§
Thus you should train yourselves,
'We will be endowed with the strength of conviction that is the strength of one in training;
with the strength of a sense of shame that is the strength of one in training;
the strength of a sense of compunction that is the strength of one in training;
the strength of persistence that is the strength of one in training;
the strength of discernment that is the strength of one in training.'
That's how you should train yourselves."
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