Iti 62

Itivuttaka: The Group of Threes

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "There are these three faculties. Which three? The faculty of 'I am about to know what is not yet finally known,' the faculty of final knowledge, the faculty of one who has finally known.[1] These are the three faculties."

For a learner in training along the straight path: first, the knowledge of ending; then, immediately, gnosis; then, from the ending of the fetter becoming there's the knowledge, the gnosis of one released who is Such:[2]

One consummate in these faculties, peaceful, enjoying the peaceful state, bears his last body, having conquered Mara along with his mount.

Notes

1. According to the Commentary, the first of these faculties corresponds to the first noble attainment, the path to stream-entry; the second, to the next six attainments, ranging from the fruition of stream-entry to the path to arahantship; and the third, to the highest attainment, the fruition of arahantship. 2.Such (tadi): see the note to §44.