Bala Sutta
Discourse on Powers/Strengths
The Tathāgata, who has attained all powers, is peerless and unequaled in the world.
Because his mind and self are thoroughly well-cultivated, he has entered the path to Full Enlightenment.
He fully understands the Dhamma perfectly and awakens from the slumber of mental defilements.
That Conqueror (the Buddha) taught this discourse to make these powers known.
For the blessings and well-being of all, let us now recite that very discourse!
Thus I heard;
when The Blessed One was sitting in JETAVANA temple
founded by ANATHAPINDIKA in SAVATTHI city.
That time, He called Bhikkhus: “Venerable Sir”
—Bhikkhus as soon as possible came to Bhagava.
Then The Blessed One said to them:
“Bhikkhus, There are Five powers. What is that five powers?
The five powers are Faith power(Saddha), Spirit power(Viriya),
Consiousness power(Sati), Samadhi power, Wisdom power(Panna).”
“Bhikkhus, How is about Faith power? He explained that: Bhikkhus,
You are good students in BUDDHA-SASAN, who belive in The Blessed One’s Virtues,
The Holy one, fully enlightened, endowed with clear vision and virtuous conduct,
sublime, The Knower of the worlds, the incomparable leader of men to be tamed,
the teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed.”
“Bhikkhus, how is about Spirit power? He explained that:
Bhikkhus, good students in BUDDHA-SASANA have spirits to avoid Bad action (AKUSALA-KAMMA),
have spirits to more collect good action (KUSALA-KAMMA).
They are diligent, dependable, not easily discouraged,
take notice the good things (KUSALA-DHAMMA). This is the Spirit power.”
“Bhikkhus, how is about Consciousness power? He explained that:
Bhikkhus, good students in BUDDHA-SASANA have good consciousness.
Remember all the things they did; and things that had done still remembered;
remember the speeches they spoke, and speeches that had spoken still remembered.
This is the Consciousness power”
“Bhikkhus, how is about Samadhi power? He explained that:
Bhikkhus, good students in BUDDHA-SASANA have good Samadhi power.
They have perfect Samadhi, and he explained that:
“Thus he(bhikkhus) away himself from sensual desire, and silence in first Jhana,
such as joyful state of mind (piti) and happy (Sukha),
which still with vitakka (directing mind to object) and Vicara (effort to state mind on object).
Then after release from Vitakka and Vicara, He entered and silence in Second Jhana,
such as Joyful state of mind and happy, without Vitakka and Vicara.
After that in balance state of mind together with pure and clear concern,
his body covered with happy feeling spoken by Ariya as ‘hapiness for who has a balance heart and mindfulness”
and he entered and silence in Third Jhana.
Then after get rid of happy feeling,
remove joyful feeling and not happy with what had been felt before,
he entered and silence in Fourth Jhana,
that there is a really balance condition, have a mindfulness (Sati-Parisuddhi),
free from happy feeling and not happy. Thus the practice of Samadhi.”
“Bhikkhus, how is about wisdom power? He explained that:
Bhikkhus, Students in BUDDHA-SASANA have wisdom.
They have perfect wisdom, that can remember rise and fall all things.
This is Wisdom power.”
“Bhikkhus, this explained things are called Five power”
After The Blessed One finished preaching, Bhikkhus rejoice and be happy.