• Numbered Discourses 8.28 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 8.28
  • 3. Householders 3. Gahapativagga

Powers (2nd) Dutiyabalasutta

Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

ā€œSāriputta, how many powers does a mendicant who has ended the defilements have that qualify them to claim: ā€œkati nu kho, sāriputta, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended’?ā€ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavÄā€™ā€ti?

ā€œSir, a mendicant who has ended the defilements has eight powers that qualify them to claim: ā€œAį¹­į¹­ha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

What eight? Katamāni aį¹­į¹­ha? Firstly, a mendicant with defilements ended has clearly seen with right wisdom all conditions as truly impermanent. Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saį¹…khārā yathābhÅ«taṁ sammappaƱƱāya sudiį¹­į¹­hā honti. This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim: Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saį¹…khārā yathābhÅ«taṁ sammappaƱƱāya sudiį¹­į¹­hā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has clearly seen with right wisdom that sensual pleasures are truly like a pit of glowing coals. Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aį¹…gārakāsÅ«pamā kāmā yathābhÅ«taṁ sammappaƱƱāya sudiį¹­į¹­hā honti. This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim: Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aį¹…gārakāsÅ«pamā kāmā yathābhÅ«taṁ sammappaƱƱāya sudiį¹­į¹­hā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Furthermore, the mind of a mendicant with defilements ended slants, slopes, and inclines to seclusion. They’re withdrawn, loving renunciation, and have totally eliminated defiling influences. Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaį¹­į¹­haṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhÅ«taṁ sabbaso āsavaį¹­į¹­hāniyehi dhammehi. This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim: Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaį¹­į¹­haṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhÅ«taṁ sabbaso āsavaį¹­į¹­hāniyehi dhammehi, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has well developed the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaį¹­į¹­hānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā. This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim: Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaį¹­į¹­hānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has well developed the four bases of psychic power … Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe… the five faculties … paƱcindriyāni bhāvitāni honti subhāvitāni …pe… the seven awakening factors … satta bojjhaį¹…gā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe… the noble eightfold path. ariyo aį¹­į¹­haį¹…giko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito. This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim: Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno ariyo aį¹­į¹­haį¹…giko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.’ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

A mendicant who has ended the defilements possesses these eight powers that qualify them to claim: Imāni kho, bhante, aį¹­į¹­ha khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paį¹­ijānāti: ā€˜My defilements have ended.ā€™ā€ ā€˜khīṇā me āsavÄā€™ā€ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.