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The Four Bases of Power

SN 51.13, the Chandasamādhi Sutta — set 5, Advanced and Reference Texts

Reading time: about 3 min · 493 words

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Before you read

One formula, stated four times over, with a single word changed each time: unification through desire, through energy, through the feeling mind, through investigation — each paired with the effort of putting things together.

Every version then unfolds the same way. The effort not to let unhelpful states arise, to abandon the ones that have, to bring about the helpful ones, and to keep them going.

Short, and useful mainly as a reference for how the effort formula is assembled. Once you have watched it built four times, you start recognizing it everywhere else in the collection.

Translation

Unification Through Desire

"Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu gains unification of mind in dependence on desire, gains directness of heart, this is called unification through desire.

They generate desire for the non-arising of unarisen harmful, unwholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

They generate desire for the abandoning of arisen harmful, unwholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

They generate desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

They generate desire for the continuation, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

These are called the exertion conditioners.

So there is this desire, and this unification through desire, and these exertion conditioners.

Bhikkhus, this is called the basis of power that has unification through desire together with the exertion conditioners.

Unification Through Energy

Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu gains unification of mind in dependence on energy, gains directness of heart, this is called unification through energy.

They generate desire for the non-arising of unarisen ... they generate desire for the continuation, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

These are called the exertion conditioners.

So there is this energy, and this unification through energy, and these exertion conditioners.

Bhikkhus, this is called the basis of power that has unification through energy together with the exertion conditioners.

Unification Through the Heart

Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu gains unification of mind in dependence on the heart, gains directness of heart, this is called unification through the heart.

They generate desire for the non-arising of unarisen harmful ... they generate desire for the continuation, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

These are called the exertion conditioners.

So there is this heart, and this unification through the heart, and these exertion conditioners.

Bhikkhus, this is called the basis of power that has unification through the heart together with the exertion conditioners.

Unification Through Investigation

Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu gains unification of mind in dependence on investigation, gains directness of heart, this is called unification through investigation.

They generate desire for the non-arising of unarisen harmful, unwholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves ... they generate desire for the continuation, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and fulfilment of arisen wholesome qualities; they make an effort, arouse energy, take hold of the heart, and exert themselves.

These are called the exertion conditioners.

So there is this investigation, and this unification through investigation, and these exertion conditioners.

Bhikkhus, this is called the basis of power that has unification through investigation together with the exertion conditioners."

Words used in this translation (7)
bhikkhu
A Buddhist monk -- someone who has left household life to practise full time. Left untranslated because "monk" carries centuries of unrelated European associations.
bhikkhus
Buddhist monks -- those who have left household life to practise full time. The Buddha's usual way of addressing the assembly, roughly "friends" in force.
heart
This project's rendering of "citta": the feeling side of mind. It takes on moods, wants, leans, and reacts. Practice can gladden, steady, train, and release it. Some call it the "heart-mind" or "feeling mind". Here "heart" does not mean only emotion, or the physical organ.
unification
Short for unification of mind (samādhi) inside a longer phrase, such as "born of unification" or "the faculty of unification."
unification of mind
This project's rendering of "samādhi" -- the thinking mind and heart gathered together into one organized, workable whole instead of pulling against each other. It does not mean narrowing attention onto one point. Usually translated "concentration," which this project avoids because it suggests forcing and strain.
unwholesome
This project's rendering of "akusala". Roughly: mentally and ethically harmful. It is blameworthy, leads to harm, and people with good judgment criticize it.
wholesome
This project's rendering of "kusala". Roughly: mentally and ethically healthy. It is blameless, leads to well-being, and people with good judgment praise it.
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