SN50:1–12 The Rivers Slanting
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, there are these five powers. What five?
The power of faith, the power of energy, the power of mindfulness, the power of concentration, the power of wisdom.
These are the five powers.
SN50:1"Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,
SN50:2-6… just as whatever great rivers there are— that is, the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Aciravati, the Sarabhū, the Mahī— all slant, slope, and incline towards the east,
SN50:7… just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the ocean,
SN50:8-12 … just as whatever great rivers there are— that is, the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Aciravati, the Sarabhū, the Mahī— all slant, slope, and incline towards the ocean,
so too a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the five powers slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.
"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop and cultivate the five 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, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops the power of mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops the power of concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops 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 five powers so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna."
sn.v.2502Six about slanting to the east
And six about slanting to the ocean.
These two sixes make up twelve:
Thus the subchapter is recited.
1"Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, balāni. Katamāni pañca? Saddhābalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, paññābalaṁ – imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca balānīti.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gaṅgā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; …
evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañca balāni bhāvento pañca balāni bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañca balāni bhāvento pañca balāni bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhābalaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ,
vīriyabalaṁ … pe …
satibalaṁ …
samādhibalaṁ …
paññābalaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañca balāni bhāvento pañca balāni bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro"ti.
Dvādasamaṁ.
Gaṅgāpeyyālavaggo paṭhamo.
2Cha pācīnato ninnā,
cha ninnā ca samuddato;
Dvete cha dvādasa honti,
vaggo tena pavuccatīti.