Aṅguttara Nikāya
The Book of the Eights
27 Powers (1)
“Bhikkhus, there are these eight
powers. What eight? (1) The power of children is weeping; (2) the
power of women is anger; (3) the power of thieves is a weapon; (4)
the power of kings is sovereignty; (5) the power of fools is to
complain; (6) the power of the wise is to deliberate; (7) the power
of the learned is reflection; (8) the power of ascetics and
brahmins is patience. These are the eight powers.”
Aṅguttara Nikāya
The Book of the Eights
28 Powers (2)
Then the Venerable
Sāriputta approached the Blessed One…. The Blessed One then said to
him:
“Sāriputta, when a bhikkhu’s taints
have been destroyed, how many powers does he possess by reason of
which he can claim: ‘My taints have been destroyed’?”
“Bhante, when a bhikkhu’s taints
have been destroyed, he possesses eight powers by reason of which
he can claim: ‘My taints have been destroyed.’ What
eight?
(1) “Here,
Bhante, a bhikkhu with taints destroyed has clearly seen all
conditioned phenomena as they really are with correct wisdom as
impermanent. This is a power of a bhikkhu with taints destroyed on
the basis of which he can claim: ‘My taints have been
destroyed.’
(2) “Again, a
bhikkhu with taints destroyed has clearly seen sensual pleasures as
they really are with correct wisdom as similar to a charcoal pit.
This is a power of a bhikkhu with taints destroyed….
(3) “Again,
the mind of a bhikkhu with taints destroyed slants, slopes, and
inclines to seclusion; it is withdrawn, delighting in renunciation,
and is entirely finished with all things that are a basis for the
taints. This is a power of a bhikkhu with taints
destroyed….
(4) “Again, a
bhikkhu with taints destroyed has developed and well developed the
four establishments of mindfulness. Since that is so, this is a
power of a bhikkhu with taints destroyed….
(5)–(8)
“Again, a bhikkhu with taints destroyed has developed and well
developed the four bases for psychic potency … the five spiritual
faculties … the seven factors of enlightenment … the noble
eightfold path. This is a power of a bhikkhu with taints destroyed
on the basis of which he can claim: ‘My taints have been
destroyed.’
“Bhante, when a bhikkhu’s taints
have been destroyed, he possesses these eight powers on the basis
of which he can claim: ‘My taints have been destroyed.’”