The Buddha teaches Venerable S on powers (2nd), presenting a eightfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 8.28 Powers (2nd)

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“kati nu kho, sāriputta, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’”ti?

“Aṭṭha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Katamāni aṭṭha? Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saṅkhārā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti. Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saṅkhārā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti. Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaṭṭhaṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhūtaṁ sabbaso āsavaṭṭhāniyehi dhammehi. Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaṭṭhaṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhūtaṁ sabbaso āsavaṭṭhāniyehi dhammehi, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā. Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe… pañcindriyāni bhāvitāni honti subhāvitāni …pe… satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe… ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito. Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

Imāni kho, bhante, aṭṭha khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘khīṇā me āsavā’”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“kati nu kho, sāriputta, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

“Sāriputta, how many powers does a mendicant who has ended the defilements have that qualify them to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’”ti?

‘My defilements have ended’?”

“Aṭṭha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

“Sir, a mendicant who has ended the defilements has eight powers that qualify them to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Katamāni aṭṭha?

What eight?

Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saṅkhārā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti.

Firstly, a mendicant with defilements ended has clearly seen with right wisdom all conditions as truly impermanent.

Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aniccato sabbe saṅkhārā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti.

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has clearly seen with right wisdom that sensual pleasures are truly like a pit of glowing coals.

Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaṭṭhaṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhūtaṁ sabbaso āsavaṭṭhāniyehi dhammehi.

Furthermore, the mind of a mendicant with defilements ended slants, slopes, and inclines to seclusion. They’re withdrawn, loving renunciation, and have totally eliminated defiling influences.

Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno vivekaninnaṁ cittaṁ hoti vivekapoṇaṁ vivekapabbhāraṁ vivekaṭṭhaṁ nekkhammābhirataṁ byantibhūtaṁ sabbaso āsavaṭṭhāniyehi dhammehi, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā.

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has well developed the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe…

Furthermore, a mendicant with defilements ended has well developed the four bases of psychic power …

pañcindriyāni bhāvitāni honti subhāvitāni …pe…

the five faculties …

satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā honti subhāvitā …pe…

the seven awakening factors …

ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito.

the noble eightfold path.

Yampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvito hoti subhāvito, idampi, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balaṁ hoti, yaṁ balaṁ āgamma khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

This is a power that a mendicant who has ended the defilements relies on to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’

Imāni kho, bhante, aṭṭha khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno balāni, yehi balehi samannāgato khīṇāsavo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ paṭijānāti:

A mendicant who has ended the defilements possesses these eight powers that qualify them to claim:

‘khīṇā me āsavā’”ti.

‘My defilements have ended.’”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Psychic power

Psychic power

Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.

Also known as: supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power
Pāli: iddhi, iddhimant
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026