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ps.2.9 Patisambhidamagga

Treatise on Powers

1. “Bhikkhus, there are these five powers, what five?

The faith power, the energy power, the mindfulness power, the concentration power, and the understanding power. These are the five powers”

2. Furthermore there are sixty-eight powers.

[As well as] the faith power, the energy power, the mindfulness power, the concentration power, the understanding power, there are: The conscience power, the shame power, the reflexion power, the development power, the blamelessness power, the assistance power, the choice power, the readiness power, the notification power, the lordship power, the steadiness power,

The serenity power, the insight power;

The ten powers of the initiate, the ten powers of the adept;

The ten powers of one whose cankers are exhausted;

The ten powers of success (supernormal power);

The ten powers of the Perfect One.

3. What is the faith power? It is not shaken by non-faith, thus it is the faith power. It is the faith power in the sense of stiffening conascent ideas. It is the faith power in the sense of terminating defilements. It is the faith power in the sense of purifying the beginning of penetration. It is the faith power in the sense of steadying of cognizance. It is the faith power in the sense of cleansing of cognizance. It is the faith power in the sense of arrival at distinction. It is the faith power in the sense of penetration higher. It is the faith power in the sense of convergence upon actuality. It is the faith power in the sense of establishing in cessation. This is the faith power.

4. What is the energy power? It is not shaken by indolence, thus it is the energy power. It is the energy power in the sense of stiffening conascent ideas … [and so on as in § 3] … It is the energy power in the sense of establishing in cessation. This is the energy power.

5. What is the mindfulness power? It is not shaken by negligence, thus it is the mindfulness power. It is the mindfulness power in the sense of stiffening associated ideas … It is the mindfulness power in the sense of establishing in cessation. This is the mindfulness power.

6. What is the concentration power? It is not shaken by agitation, thus it is the concentration power. It is the concentration power … in the sense of establishing in cessation. This is the concentration power.

7. What is the understanding power? It is not shaken by ignorance, thus it is the understanding power. It is the understanding power … in the sense of establishing in cessation. This is the understanding power.

8. What is the conscience power? Through renunciation it has conscientious scruples about zeal for sensual-desires, thus it is the conscience power. Through non-ill-will … [and so on with the rest of the seven hindrances and their opposites, the four jhanas, the four immaterial attainments, the eighteen principal insights, and the four paths, up to] … Through the arahant path it has conscientious scruples about all defilements, thus it is the conscience power. This is the conscience power.

9. What is the shame power? Through renunciation it is ashamed of zeal for sensual-desires, thus it is the shame power. Through non-ill-will … Through the arahant path it is ashamed of all defilements, thus it is the shame power. This is the shame power.

10. What is the reflexion power? Through renunciation it reflects on zeal for sensual-desires, thus it is the reflexion power. Through non-ill-will … Through the arahant path it reflects on all defilements, thus it is the reflexion power. This is the reflexion power.

11. What is the development power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires develops renunciation, thus it is the development power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements develops the arahant path, thus it is the development power. This is the development power.

12. What is the blamelessness power? Because zeal for sensual-desires has been abandoned there is no blame in renunciation, thus it is the blamelessness power. Because ill-will has been abandoned … Because all defilements have been abandoned there is no blame in the arahant path, thus it is the blamelessness power. This is the blamelessness power.

13. What is the assistance power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires assists cognizance with renunciation, thus it is the assistance power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements assists cognizance with the arahant path, thus it is the assistance power. This is the assistance power.

14. What is the choice power? Because zeal for sensual-desires has been abandoned he chooses renunciation, thus it is the choice power. Because ill-will has been abandoned … Because all defilements have been abandoned he chooses the arahant path, thus it is the choice power. This is the choice power.

15. What is the readiness power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires makes cognizance ready with renunciation, thus it is the readiness power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements makes cognizance ready with the arahant path, thus it is the readiness power. This is the readiness power.

16. What is the notification power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires notifies cognizance with renunciation, thus it is the notification power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements notifies cognizance with the arahant path, thus it is the notification power. This is the notification power.

17. What is the lordship power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires wields mastery over cognizance with renunciation, thus it is the lordship power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements wields mastery over cognizance with the arahant path, thus it is the lordship power. This is the lordship power.

18. What is the steadiness power? One who abandons zeal for sensual-desires steadies cognizance with renunciation, thus it is the steadiness power. One who abandons ill-will … One who abandons all defilements steadies cognizance with the arahant path, thus it is the steadiness power. This is the steadiness power.

19. What is the serenity power? Non-distraction as unification of cognizance through renunciation is the serenity power. Non-distraction as unification of cognizance through non-ill-will is the serenity power … [and so on with all the ideas mentioned in Tr. I § 442 up to] … Non-distraction as unification of cognizance through breathing out contemplating relinquishment is the serenity power.

In what sense serenity power?

What is the serenity power? Non-distraction as unification of cognizance through renunciation is serenity as a power … [repeat Tr. I § 452] … Non-distraction as unification of cognizance through breathing out contemplating relinquishment is serenity as a power.

20. In what sense is serenity a power? Through the first jhana it is unshakable by the hindrances, thus serenity is a power … [repeat Tr. I § 453] … Through the attainment of the base consisting of neither perception nor non-perception it is unshakable by perception of the base consisting of nothingness, thus serenity is a power.

It is unshakable, immovable and cannot be shifted by agitation and by the defilements and aggregates that accompany agitation, thus serenity is a power.

This is the serenity power.

21. What is the insight power? Contemplation of impermanence is insight as a power, … [repeat Tr. I § 454] … contemplation of relinquishment in ageing and death is insight as a power.

22. In what sense is insight a power? Through contemplation of impermanence it is unshakable by perception of permanence, thus insight is a power … [repeat Tr. I § 455] … Through contemplation of relinquishment it is unshakable by grasping, thus insight is a power.

It is unshakable, immovable and cannot be shifted by ignorance and by the defilements and aggregates that accompany ignorance, thus insight is a power.

This is the insight power.

23. What are the ten powers of the initiate and the ten powers of the adept? He trains (sikkhati) in right view, thus it is a power of the initiate (sekha); because he is trained (sikkhitattā) therein it is a power of the adept (asekha). He trains in right thought, thus it is a power of the initiate; because he is trained therein it is a power of the adept. He trains in right speaking, … He trains in right acting, … He trains in right living, … He trains in right effort, … He trains in right mindfulness, … He trains in right concentration, … He trains in right knowledge, … He trains in right deliverance, thus it is a power of the initiate; because he is trained therein it is a power of the adept. These are the ten powers of the initiate and the ten powers of the adept.

24. What are the ten powers of one whose cankers are exhausted?

Here a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has clearly seen correctly with right understanding all formations as impermanent. In that he has done that, it is a power of one whose cankers are exhausted, in virtue of which power a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted claims the exhaustion of cankers thus: “My cankers are exhausted”.

25. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has clearly seen correctly with right understanding sensual-desires as like a pit of hot coals. In that he has done that, … [complete as in § 24].

26. Again, when a bhikkhu's cankers are exhausted, his cognizance tends and inclines and leans to seclusion, takes its stand in seclusion, delights in renunciation, has entirely done with ideas conducive to cankers. In that he has done that, …

27. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the four foundations of mindfulness, well developed them. In that he has done that, …

28. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the four right endeavours, well developed them. In that he has done that, …

29. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the four bases for success (roads to power), well developed them. In that he has done that, …

30. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the five faculties, well developed them. In that he has done that, …

31. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the five powers, well developed them. In that he has done that, …

32. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the seven enlightenment factors, well developed them. In that he has done that, …

33. Again, a bhikkhu whose cankers are exhausted has developed the noble eightfold path, well developed it. In that he has done that, … These are the ten powers of one whose cankers are exhausted.

34. What are the ten powers of success (supernormal power)?

Success as decision, success as transformation, success as the mind-made [body], success by intervention of knowledge, success by intervention of concentration, Noble Ones' success, success born of action-result, success of the meritorious, success through the sciences, success in the sense of succeeding with a task right for the particular occasion (see Tr. XXII §§ 4 ff.).

These are the ten powers of success.

35. What are the ten powers of the Perfect One?

Here the Perfect One correctly understands the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible. In that he does that, it is a power of the Perfect One, in virtue of which power the Perfect One claims the leader's place, makes his lion's roar in the assemblies and sets turning the matchless Wheel.

36. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands the result of past, future and present action-liabilities with their possibilities and causes. In that he does that, it is …

37. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands whither all ways lead. In that he does that, …

38. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands the world with its numerous and various principles. In that he does that, …

39. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands the different resolutions of beings. In that he does that, …

40. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands the disposition of faculties in other beings, other persons. In that he does that, …

41. Again, the Perfect One correctly understands corruption, cleansing, and emergence, in the jhanas, liberations, concentrations, and attainments. In that he does that, …

42. Again, the Perfect One recollects his manifold past life that is to say: one birth, … [and so on as in Tr. I § 542] … thus with its aspects and particulars he recollects his manifold past life. In that he does that, …

43. Again, the Perfect One with divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, sees beings passing away and reappearing, … [and so on as in Tr. I § 548] … understands beings as faring according to their actions. In that he does that, …

44. Again, by realization himself through direct-knowledge the Perfect One here and now enters upon and abides in the deliverance of will and deliverance of understanding that are canker-free through exhaustion of cankers. In that he does that, …

These are the ten powers of the Perfect One.

45. In what sense faith power?

In what sense energy power?

In what sense mindfulness power?

In what sense concentration power?

In what sense understanding power?

In what sense conscience power?

In what sense shame power?

In what sense reflexion power?

In what sense development power?

In what sense blamelessness power?

In what sense assistance power?

In what sense choice power?

In what sense readiness power?

In what sense notification power?

In what sense lordship power?

In what sense steadiness power?

In what sense serenity power?

In what sense insight power?

In what sense powers of the initiate?

In what sense powers of the adept?

In what sense powers of one whose cankers are exhausted?

In what sense powers of success (supernormal power)?

In what sense powers of the Perfect One?

The faith power is in the sense of unshakability by non-faith.

The energy power is in the sense of unshakability by idleness.

The mindfulness power is in the sense of unshakability by negligence.

The concentration power is in the sense of unshakability by agitation.

The understanding power is in the sense of unshakability by ignorance.

It has conscientious scruples about evil unprofitable ideas, thus it is the conscience power.

It is ashamed of evil unprofitable ideas, thus it is the shame power.

It reflects on defilements with knowledge, thus it is the reflexion power.

Ideas produced therein have a single function (taste), thus it is the development power. [contrast § 11]

There is nothing blameable there, thus it is the blamelessness power.

Thereby it assists cognizance, thus it is the assistance power.

He chooses that, thus it is the choice power.

He makes cognizance ready with that, thus it is the readiness power.

He notifies cognizance with that, thus it is the notification power.

He wields mastery over cognizance with that, thus it is the lordship power.

He steadies cognizance with that, thus it is the steadiness power.

Thereby cognizance is unified, thus it is the serenity power.

He contemplates the ideas produced therein, thus it is the insight power.

He trains therein, thus it is a power of the initiate.

Because of having trained therein it is a power of the adept.

Thereby cankers are exhausted, thus it is a power of one whose cankers are exhausted.

That is his success, thus it is a power of success.

A Perfect One's power is in the sense of immeasurability.

End of treatise on powers.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli

- Editor: Manfred Wierich