The Buddha teaches on the five spiritual faculties regarding the boar’s cave, guiding mendicants in developing faith through wisdom on the path to liberation.

SN 48.58 The Boar’s Cave

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate sūkarakhatāyaṁ. Tatra kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi:

“kiṁ nu kho, sāriputta, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

“Anuttarañhi, bhante, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Anuttarañhi, sāriputta, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattati.

Katamo ca, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …pe… satindriyaṁ bhāvetisamādhindriyaṁ bhāvetipaññindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ. Ayaṁ kho, bhante, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Eso hi, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatīti.

Katamo ca, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu satthari sagāravo viharati sappatisso, dhamme sagāravo viharati sappatisso, saṅghe sagāravo viharati sappatisso, sikkhāya sagāravo viharati sappatisso, samādhismiṁ sagāravo viharati sappatisso. Ayaṁ kho, bhante, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Eso hi, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate sūkarakhatāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain in the Boar’s Cave.

Tatra kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi:

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta:

“kiṁ nu kho, sāriputta, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

“Sāriputta, considering what benefit does a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, roll forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions?”

“Anuttarañhi, bhante, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

“Sir, it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.”

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.

“Good, good, Sāriputta!

Anuttarañhi, sāriputta, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattati.

For it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant whose defilements are ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.

Katamo ca, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

And what is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke?”

“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ,

“It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended develops the faculties of faith,

vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …pe…

energy,

satindriyaṁ bhāveti

mindfulness,

samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti

immersion,

paññindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ.

and wisdom, which lead to peace and awakening.

Ayaṁ kho, bhante, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

It is considering this supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.”

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.

“Good, good, Sāriputta!

Eso hi, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatīti.

For this is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Katamo ca, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?

And what is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows towards the Realized One or his instructions?”

“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu satthari sagāravo viharati sappatisso, dhamme sagāravo viharati sappatisso, saṅghe sagāravo viharati sappatisso, sikkhāya sagāravo viharati sappatisso, samādhismiṁ sagāravo viharati sappatisso.

“It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended maintains respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion.

Ayaṁ kho, bhante, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

This is that utmost deference.”

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.

“Good, good, Sāriputta!

Eso hi, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate tathāgatasāsane paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.

For this is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows towards the Realized One or his instructions.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Inquisitiveness

Inquisitiveness

The faculty of investigation that probes into phenomena, testing what is wholesome and unwholesome. It examines the teachings and one's own experience to discern truth from falsity.

Also known as: considering, curiosity, inquiring, testing
Pāli: vīmaṃsā
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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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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026