5-50-1 Bala | Samyutta

Chapter VI

50 Balasamyutta
Connected Discourses on the Powers

I. GANGES REPETITION SERIES

1 (1)–12 (12) The River Ganges—Eastward, Etc.

Bhikkhus, there are these 5 powers. What 5?

1) The power of faith,
2) the power of energy,
3) the power of mindfulness,
4) the power of concentration,
5) the power of wisdom.

- These are the 5 powers.

Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a Bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the 5 powers slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu develop and cultivate the 5 powers so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the power of faith, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the power of energy … the power of mindfulness … the power of concentration … the power of wisdom, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu develops and cultivates the 5 powers so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

(The remaining Suttas of this vagga are to be similarly elaborated parallel to 45:92–102.)

6 about slanting to the east
And 6 about slanting to the ocean.
These 2 6es make up twelve:
Thus the subchapter is recited.

II. DILIGENCE

13 (1)–22 (10) The Tathāgata, Etc.

(To be elaborated by way of the powers parallel to 45:139–48.)

Tathāgata, footprint, roof peak,
Roots, hear2od, jasmine,
Monarch, the moon and sun,
Together with the cloth as tenth.

III. STRENUOUS DEEDS

23 (1)–34 (12) Strenuous, Etc.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:149–60.)

Strenuous, seeds, and Nāgas,
The tree, the pot, the spike,
The sky, and 2 on clouds,
The ship, guest house, and river.

IV. SEARCHES

35 (1)–44 (10) Searches, Etc.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:161–70.)

Searches, discriminations, taints,
Kinds of existence, 3-fold suffering,
Barrenness, stains, and troubles,
Feelings, craving, and thirst.

V. FLOODS

45 (1)–53 (9) Floods, Etc.

(To be elaborated parallel to 45:171–79.)

54 (10) Higher Fetters

Bhikkhus, there are these 5 higher fetters. What 5?

Lust for form, lust for the formless, conceit, restlessness, ignorance.

- These are the 5 higher fetters.

The 5 powers are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

What 5?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the power of faith … the power of wisdom, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

These 5 powers are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

Floods, bonds, kinds of clinging,
Knots, and underlying tendencies,
Cords of sensual pleasure, hindrances,
Aggregates, fetters lower and higher.

VI. GANGES REPETITION SERIES

(Removal of Lust Version)

55 (1)–66 (12) The River Ganges—Eastward, Etc.

Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a Bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the 5 powers slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

And how, Bhikkhus, does a Bhikkhu develop and cultivate the 5 powers so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the power of faith … the power of wisdom, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu develops and cultivates the 5 powers so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

VII. DILIGENCE

(Removal of Lust Version)

67 (1)–76 (10) The Tathāgata, Etc.

VIII. STRENUOUS DEEDS

(Removal of Lust Version)

77 (1)–88 (12) Strenuous, Etc.

IX. SEARCHES

(Removal of Lust Version)

89 (1)–98 (10) Searches, Etc.

X. FLOODS

(Removal of Lust Version)

99 (1)–107 (9) Floods, Etc.

108 (10) Higher Fetters

Bhikkhus, there are these 5 higher fetters. What 5?

Lust for form, lust for the formless, conceit, restlessness, ignorance.

- These are the 5 higher fetters.

The 5 powers are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

What 5?

Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the power of faith … the power of wisdom, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

These 5 powers are to be developed for direct knowledge of these 5 higher fetters, for the full understanding of them, for their utter destruction, for their abandoning.

Floods, bonds, kinds of clinging,
Knots, and underlying tendencies,
Cords of sensual pleasure, hindrances,
Aggregates, fetters lower and higher.

(All to be elaborated by way of the 5 powers having as their final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.)