One who has developed the five faculties is an Arahant. Those who are lesser in the development of these faculties are practicing for the realization of the fruit of Arahantship.

SN 48.18  Paṭipanna sutta - Practicing

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni. Katamāni pañca? Saddhindriyaṁ …pe… paññindriyaṁ imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyāni.

“Bhikkhus, these are the five faculties. Which five? The faculty of |confidence::faith|, |persistence::energy|, mindfulness, |collectedness::concentration| and wisdom.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ samattā paripūrattā arahaṁ hoti, tato mudutarehi arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno hoti, tato mudutarehi anāgāmī hoti, tato mudutarehi anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno hoti, tato mudutarehi sakadāgāmī hoti, tato mudutarehi sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno hoti, tato mudutarehi sotāpanno hoti, tato mudutarehi sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno hoti. Yassa kho, bhikkhave, imāni pañcindriyāni sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ natthi, tamahaṁ ‘bāhiro puthujjanapakkhe ṭhito’ti vadāmī”ti.

Among these, bhikkhus, when the five faculties are fully developed, one is an |Arahant::perfectly enlightened|. Those who are lesser in the development of these faculties are practicing for the realization of the fruit of Arahantship. Those milder still are non-returners; those even milder are practicing for the fruit of non-returning. Those milder still are once-returners; those even milder are practicing for the fruit of once-returning. Those milder still are |stream-enterers::A stream-enterer is an individual who has attained the first stage of awakening, having completely abandoned the three fetters: 1) personal existence view - identity view, belief in a self, 2) doubt or perplexity regarding suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice leading to the end of suffering, and 3) adherence to rules and observances as a means of liberation [sotāpanna]|; those even milder are practicing for the fruit of stream-entry.

If anyone, bhikkhus, is completely devoid of these five faculties, I declare that such a person stands outside, in the faction of the ordinary person.”

Last updated on October 19, 2025