Adept (a)

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[1] THUS have I heard:

Now a certain monk came to see the Exalted One,
and on coming to
him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and reminiscent talk
sat down at one side.

So seated he said:

"Sir, the words 'an adept, an adept,'^[1] are used.

Pray, sir, how far is a monk an adept?"

"In this matter, monk, a monk is possessed
of the right view of an adept,
of an adept's right thinking,
of an adept's right speech,
of an adept's right action,
of an adept's right living,
of an adept's right effort,
of an adept's right mindfulness,
of an adept's right concentration,
of an adept's right knowledge
of an adept's right release.

Thus far a monk is an adept."

^[1] Asekho (not-pupil). At K.S. ii, 84 ff., it is possible to be one by insight and to declare gnosis without any super-powers. At K.S. v, 154, 265, the adept is such by cultivating the Arisings of Mindfulness; at K.S. v, 204, the Five controlling faculties. It is generally applied to defining the arahant, K.S. iii, 69. For an adept's virtues see G.S. i, 199. Thus the arahant is asekha, a master, not a pupil. In theosophical teachings the asekha is the next, but much higher stage than that of Arahant, and this is called 'the fifth initiation.'

Aṅguttara Nikāya X. Dasaka-Nipāta XI: Samaṇa-Saññā-Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings X. The Book of the Tens XI: Ideas of a Recluse

Sutta 111

Paṭhama Asekha Suttaɱ

Adept (a)

Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
XI: Samaṇa-Saññā-Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
XI: Ideas of a Recluse