A Trainee (SN48.53)

Linked Discourses 48.53

6. The Boar’s Cave

A Trainee

So I have heard.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, is there a way that a mendicant who is a trainee, standing at the level of a trainee, can understand that they are a trainee? And that a mendicant who is an adept, standing at the level of an adept, can understand that they are an adept?”

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”

“There is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee, standing at the level of a trainee, can understand that they are a trainee, and that a mendicant who is an adept, standing at the level of an adept, can understand that they are an adept.

And what is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee?

It’s when a mendicant who is a trainee truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

This is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.

Furthermore, a mendicant who is a trainee reflects:

‘Is there any other ascetic or brahmin elsewhere whose teaching is as true, as real, as accurate as that of the Buddha?’¹

They understand:

‘There is no other ascetic or brahmin elsewhere whose teaching is as true, as real, as accurate as that of the Buddha.’

This too is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.

Furthermore, a mendicant who is a trainee understands the five faculties:

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

And although they don’t have direct meditative experience of their destination, apex, fruit, and culmination,

they do see them with penetrating wisdom.

This too is a way that a mendicant who is a trainee can understand that they are a trainee.

And what is the way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept?

It’s when a mendicant who is an adept understands the five faculties:

faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom.

They have direct meditative experience of their destination, apex, fruit, and culmination,

and they see them with penetrating wisdom.

This is a way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept.

Furthermore, a mendicant who is an adept understands the six faculties:

eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.

They understand: ‘These six faculties will totally and utterly cease without remainder. And no other six faculties will arise anywhere anyhow.’

This too is a way that a mendicant who is an adept can understand that they are an adept.”