1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as whatever strenuous deeds are done, are all done based upon the earth, established upon the earth,

so too, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the five spiritual faculties.

i. based upon seclusion

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the five spiritual faculties?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the faculty of energy, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the faculty of mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the faculty of concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the faculty of wisdom, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the five spiritual faculties."

ii. removal of lust

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the five spiritual faculties?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith,
which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the faculty of energy,
which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the faculty of mindfulness,
which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the faculty of concentration,
which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the faculty 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, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the five spiritual faculties."

iii. the Deathless

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the five spiritual faculties?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith,
which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the faculty of energy,
which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the faculty of mindfulness,
which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the faculty of concentration,
which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the faculty of wisdom,
which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the five spiritual faculties."

iv. towards Nibbāna

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the five spiritual faculties?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith,
which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the faculty of energy,
which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the faculty of mindfulness,
which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the faculty of concentration,
which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the faculty of wisdom,
which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the five spiritual faculties."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti; …

Paṭhamaṁ.