And How May One See?

Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts][than] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthī-town revisiting.

There then the Lucky Man addressed the bhikkhus:

"Beggars!"

And the beggars responding:
"Bhadante"
The Lucky man said to them:

"There are, beggars, these five forces.^[1]

What five?

The force of faith,
the force of energy,
the force of mind,
the force of serenity, and
the force of wisdom.

And how, beggars, may one see
the force of faith?

In the four angles of Streamwinning.^[2]

That is how one may see the force of faith.

■

And how, beggars, may one see
the force of energy?

In the four consummate efforts.^[3]

That is how one may see the force of energy.

■

And how, beggars, may one see
the force of mind?

In the four settings-up of mind.^[4]

That is how one may see the force of mind.

■

And how, beggars, may one see
the force of serenity?

In the four kennings.^[5]

That is how one may see the force of serenity.

■

And how, beggars, may one see
the force of wisdom?

In the Four Aristocrats of Truths.^[6]

That is how one may see the force of wisdom.

These then, beggars, is how to view the five forces."

^[2] Faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Order, and the ethical standards of the Aristocrat.