an.10.12 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Five Factors

“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has abandoned five factors and possesses five factors is called, in this Dhamma and discipline, a supreme person who is consummate and has completely lived the spiritual life.

“And how has a bhikkhu abandoned five factors? Here, a bhikkhu has abandoned sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. It is in this way that a bhikkhu has abandoned five factors.

“And how does a bhikkhu possess five factors? Here, a bhikkhu possesses the aggregate of virtuous behavior of one beyond training, the aggregate of concentration of one beyond training, the aggregate of wisdom of one beyond training, the aggregate of liberation of one beyond training, and the aggregate of the knowledge and vision of liberation of one beyond training. It is in this way that a bhikkhu possesses five factors.

“When a bhikkhu has abandoned these five factors and possesses these five factors, he is called, in this Dhamma and discipline, a supreme person who is consummate and complete in living the spiritual life.”

When sensual desire and ill will,
dullness and drowsiness,
restlessness, and doubt are
totally absent in a bhikkhu;
when one like this possesses
the virtue and concentration
of one beyond training,
and similar liberation and knowledge;
possessing five factors
and having removed five factors,
he is truly called a consummate one
in this Dhamma and discipline.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Five Factors

“Mendicants, in this teaching and training a mendicant who has given up five factors and possesses five factors is called consummate, accomplished, a supreme person.
And how has a mendicant given up five factors?
It’s when a mendicant has given up sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.
That’s how a mendicant has given up five factors.
And how does a mendicant have five factors?
It’s when a mendicant has the entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and knowledge and vision of freedom.
That’s how a mendicant has five factors.
In this teaching and training a mendicant who has given up five factors and possesses five factors is called consummate, accomplished, a supreme person.
Sensual desire, ill will,
dullness and drowsiness,
restlessness, and doubt
are not found in a mendicant at all.
One like this is accomplished
in an adept’s ethics,
an adept’s immersion,
and freedom and knowledge.
Possessing these five factors,
and rid of five factors,
in this teaching and training
they’re called ‘consummate’.”