The Buddha analyzes the five spiritual faculties—defining faith as conviction in the Buddha's awakening, energy as the four right efforts, mindfulness as the four establishments of mindfulness, immersion as the four absorptions, and wisdom as discerning the four noble truths.

SN 48.8 Should Be Seen

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

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, saddhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ? Catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu ettha saddhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, vīriyindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ? Catūsu sammappadhānesu ettha vīriyindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, satindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ? Catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu ettha satindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, samādhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ? Catūsu jhānesu ettha samādhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, paññindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ? Catūsu ariyasaccesu ettha paññindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyānī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, saddhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ?

And where should the faculty of faith be seen?

Catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu

In the four factors of stream-entry.

ettha saddhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, vīriyindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ?

And where should the faculty of energy be seen?

Catūsu sammappadhānesu

In the four right efforts.

ettha vīriyindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, satindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ?

And where should the faculty of mindfulness be seen?

Catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu

In the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

ettha satindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, samādhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ?

And where should the faculty of immersion be seen?

Catūsu jhānesu

In the four absorptions.

ettha samādhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Kattha ca, bhikkhave, paññindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ?

And where should the faculty of wisdom be seen?

Catūsu ariyasaccesu

In the four noble truths.

ettha paññindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyānī”ti.

These are the five faculties.”

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026