62. Faculties (ITI62)

This was said by the Lord …

“Bhikkhus, there are these three faculties. What three? The faculty of the assurance: ‘I shall come to finally know what is as yet not finally known’; the faculty of final knowledge; and the faculty of one who has finally known. These, bhikkhus, are the three faculties.”

For a learner who is training
In conformity with the direct path,
The knowledge of destruction arises first,
And final knowledge immediately follows.

Freed by that final knowledge,
By destroying the fetters of being
The serene one has the certainty:
“Unshakeable is my release.”

Endowed with this faculty
The peaceful one delights in the peaceful state.
Having conquered Māra and his mount,
He bears his final body.

Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland.

Digital Transcription Source: BPS Transcription Project

Extracted from The Udāna & the Itivuttaka, translated and introduced by John D. Ireland. Published in 1997.

The complete book, including introduction and notes by the translator, is available from the Buddhist Publication Society.

ISBN 955–24-0164-X

Copyright © 1997 by John D. Ireland.

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