Five Powers: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Five Powers means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Five Powers in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Five Powers or Five Strengths:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit pañcabala defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 48).

  1. Faith (śraddhā),
  2. Energy (vīrya),
  3. Mindfulness (smṛti),
  4. Concentration (samādhi),
  5. Wisdom (prajñā).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., ‘five powers’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Source: WikiPedia: Buddhism

The Five Powers in Buddhism are faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. They are one of the seven sets of "qualities conducive to enlightenment." They are parallel facets of the five spiritual faculties.

Faith and Wisdom balance each other, as do Energy and Concentration. The Five Faculties are "controlling faculties because they control or master their opposites. The faculties and powers are two aspects of the same thing.

  1. Faith (saddha) - controls doubt
  2. Energy/Effort/Persistence (viriya) – controls laziness
  3. Mindfulness (sati); - controls heedlessness
  4. Concentration (samadhi) - controls distraction
  5. Wisdom/Discernment (panna, prajna) – controls ignorance

See also (Relevant definitions)

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