sn.48.53 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

A Trainee

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, is there a way that a mendicant who is a trainee, standing at the level of a trainee, can understand that they are a trainee? And that a mendicant who is an adept, standing at the level of an adept, can understand that they are an adept?”
“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”
“There is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee, standing at the level of a trainee, can understand that they are a trainee, and that a mendicant who is an adept, standing at the level of an adept, can understand that they are an adept.
And what is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee?
It’s when a mendicant who is a trainee truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.
This is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.
Furthermore, a mendicant who is a trainee reflects:
‘Is there any other ascetic or brahmin elsewhere whose teaching is as true, as real, as accurate as that of the Buddha?’
They understand:
‘There is no other ascetic or brahmin elsewhere whose teaching is as true, as real, as accurate as that of the Buddha.’
This too is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.
Furthermore, a mendicant who is a trainee understands the five faculties:
faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.
And although they don’t have direct meditative experience of their destination, apex, fruit, and culmination,
they do see them with penetrating wisdom.
This too is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.
And what is the way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept?
It’s when a mendicant who is an adept understands the five faculties:
faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.
They have direct meditative experience of their destination, apex, fruit, and culmination,
and they see them with penetrating wisdom.
This is a way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept.
Furthermore, a mendicant who is an adept understands the six faculties:
eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
They understand: ‘These six faculties will totally and utterly cease without anything left over. And no other six faculties will arise anywhere anyhow.’
This too is a way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept.”