Buddhism is packed with various lists: the three trainings, the four foundations of mindfulness, the five skandhas, the eightfold path, the twelve-fold dependent origination, the 37 limbs of awakening, and more. These lists are often presented in a static way, simply offering an overview of aspects of life. For instance, the four foundations might be described as four aspects we can be mindful of, and the five skandhas as a way to deconstruct the idea of a unified self.
One such list is the five faculties, also known as the five spiritual faculties: faith, vigor, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. These faculties are often presented as five things we need to develop to achieve awakening. This is evident in scriptures that state:
“A mendicant must develop and cultivate five faculties so that they can declare enlightenment. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.”
I believe the Buddha was more interested in explaining how things work rather than just providing overviews. His teachings on dependent origination, for example, are about how one condition leads to another, ultimately resulting in greater freedom and joy. So, when examining Buddhist lists, I’m inclined to consider how their components might function together as a dynamic system.
While researching for this article, I found an early text that presents the five spiritual faculties as a dynamic sequence, with each factor building upon the previous one. This text, “The Discourse on the Analysis of Topics” (Arthaviniscaya Sutra), although termed a “sutra,” is actually a commentarial work created by monks a few centuries after the Buddha’s death. It explains that the five spiritual faculties contribute, step by step, to developing the qualities needed for awakening.
Here’s how it works:
This early text demonstrates how the five spiritual faculties interact as a system. Recently, I taught a class at a local Buddhist center, explaining how these faculties work together in the moment to help us transition from harmful to beneficial states of mind, thereby reducing suffering and promoting peace and joy.
For example, let’s consider experiencing anger and how the five spiritual faculties function:
Mindfulness involves observing our experience. Without mindfulness, no practice can occur, as it allows us to recognize when anger has arisen. Awareness of anger is a crucial first step because it shifts us from merely being angry to knowing that we are.
Often, especially within Buddhism, wisdom is seen as an enlightened understanding of reality. However, in early Buddhism, wisdom also includes mundane truths like recognizing that good deeds have positive outcomes. In our anger scenario, mindfulness makes us aware of our anger, while wisdom helps us understand that anger leads to suffering and that alternatives like curiosity, patience, and kindness could make us happier.
Faith in Buddhism is about confidence and clarity rather than blind belief. We might intellectually know that anger causes problems but still believe anger is necessary to get what we want. With continued mindful observation and understanding, we can start to trust that letting go of anger in favor of kindness brings both immediate and long-term benefits.
Having recognized anger through mindfulness and understood its negative impact through wisdom, and now with faith in the benefits of non-anger, we feel motivated to change. Yet, no action has been taken.
Vigor (virya), meaning energy, is the drive to act. With confidence that non-anger is preferable, we can take steps to let go of angry thoughts or words and instead cultivate more positive qualities like curiosity and kindness. Vigor is the effort to enact these changes, such as speaking kindly or apologetically.
Concentration (samadhi) involves a unified mind focused on a single purpose. It’s about maintaining continuity of mindfulness without internal conflict. When dealing with anger, concentration helps us sustain our effort to respond skillfully, overcoming the parts of our mind that see anger as a solution. Over time, sustained mindfulness and wise action weaken the reactive parts of our mind, leading to less inner conflict and greater harmony.
In summary, the five spiritual faculties—mindfulness, wisdom, faith, vigor, and concentration—work together moment by moment to help us transition from harmful habits to healthier ones, ultimately reducing suffering and fostering enlightenment. Developing and cultivating these faculties entails consistent application, which helps build habits that liberate us from suffering.