The Buddha teaches on the five spiritual faculties regarding seven benefits, guiding mendicants in developing faith through wisdom on the path to liberation.

SN 48.66 Seven Benefits

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni. Katamāni pañca? Saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyāni.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā. Katame satta phalā sattānisaṁsā? Diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, atha maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā ime satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni.

“Mendicants, there are these five faculties.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ

The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyāni.

These are the five faculties.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.

Because of developing and cultivating these five faculties, seven fruits and benefits can be expected.

Katame satta phalā sattānisaṁsā?

What seven?

Diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti,

They attain enlightenment early on in this very life.

no ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, atha maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti.

If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti,

If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, they’re extinguished between one life and the next …

upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti,

they’re extinguished upon landing …

asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti,

they’re extinguished without extra effort …

sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti,

they’re extinguished with extra effort …

uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.

they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā ime satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

Because of developing and cultivating these five faculties, these seven fruits and benefits can be expected.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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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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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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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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