This course examines the Buddha’s teachings on the five spiritual faculties: confidence or faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. It is the development and balancing of these five faculties that provide the force that moves the mind from faith to wisdom and release.
Resources
Audio:
Study Resources:
The Five Spiritual Faculties
- The Five Spiritual Faculties by Sayadaw U Tejaniya
- “The Five Spiritual Faculties”, Chapter 12, from Seeking the Heart of Wisdom by Goldstein & Kornfield
- Spiritual Faculties by Ayya Khema
- Spiritual Faculties Chart by Steve Armstrong
- “Got Attitude?” By Steve Armstrong, Tricycle, FALL 2010
- The Five Faculties by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Pages 136 – 153 in The Wings to Awakening)
- The Five Spiritual Faculties by Bikkhu Bodhi
- The Five Spiritual Faculties by Ajahn Nyanadhammo
- The Five Spiritual Faculties a series of audio dharma talks by Gil Fronsdal
- The Five Faculties, adapted from a talk by Gil Fronsdal, October 1st, 2003
- The Five Spiritual Powers by Sarah Doering
Faith
- Faith in Awakening: Are Faith and Empiricism Compatible? by Ajahn Thanisaro
- Annie Nugent’s discussion on faith
- Faith in the Quest by Ajahn Jayasaro (scroll down to page 253)
- Truth by Andy Olendzki,*Insight Journal*in Spring 2006
Effort
- Stream Entry Part 1: The Way to Stream-entry and Part 2: Stream-entry and After by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- “Making a Joyful Effort”, by Christina Feldman, Insight Journal, Fall 2003
Mindfulness
- MN 118 Anapanasati Sutta: Mindfulness of Breathing translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Taking Responsibility for Our Thoughts: Reflections on the Vitakkasanthana Sutta by Mark W. Muesse, Insight Journal 2001
- Mindfulness Meditation as a Buddhist Practice by Gil Fronsdal, February 2006
- The Power of Mindfulness by Mark Nunberg
- Guided Meditation – Exploring the Four Satipatthanas, by Analayo Bhikkhu
- The Wheel of our Satipatthana Practice by Analayo Bhikkhu
- Mindfulness in Early Buddhism, by Venerable Analayo
- What Mindfulness Is (Not), by Andrew Olendzki
Concentration