Mahâ-Parinibbâna-Suttanta: The Book of the Great Decease

2. The necessary exertion united to earnest meditation and the struggle against sin. 3. The necessary preparation of the heart united to earnest meditation and the struggle against sin. 4. Investigation united to earnest meditation and the struggle against sin. The five moral powers (pañka Balâni) are said to be the same as the next class, called organs (Indriyâni). It is no doubt most remarkable that, in a summary like this, two classes out of seven should be absolutely identical except in name. The difference of name is altogether too unimportant to account, by itself, for the distinction made. Either the currently accepted explanation of one of the two aggregate terms must be incorrect, or we must look for some explanation of the repetition other than the mere desire to record the double title. Is it impossible that the one class was split into two to bring the number of the classes up to the sacred number seven, corresponding to the seven Ratanas of a Kakkavatti? The details of both classes are-- 1. Faith. 2. Energy. 3. Thought. 4. Contemplation. 5. Wisdom. The seven kinds of Wisdom (satta Bogghangâ) are-- 1. Energy. 2. Thought. 3. Contemplation. 4. Investigation (of scripture). 5. Joy. 6. Repose. 7. Serenity. The Noble Eightfold Path (ariyo atthangiko Maggo) forms the subject of the Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-Sutta, translated in this volume, and consists of-- 1. Right views. 2. High aims. 3. Right speech. 4. Upright conduct. 5. A harmless livelihood. 6. Perseverance in well-doing. 7. Intellectual activity. 8. Earnest thought.]