1.
The Chapter on Faculties
1.
Commentary on the Discourse on Faculties and So On
151. In the first discourse of the fourth, it does the function of lordship by means of the charge of faith, thus it is the faith faculty. The same method applies in the remaining ones too. In the second, the power of faith is in the meaning of unshakeability regarding faithlessness. The same method applies in the remaining ones too. In the third, "the power of the blameless" means the power of the faultless. "The power of kindness" means the power of treating kindly those who are fit to be treated kindly. The fourth and fifth are of manifest meaning only.
6.
Commentary on the Kappa Discourse
156. In the sixth, "contracts" - here there are three universe-contractions: the universe-contraction by water, the universe-contraction by fire, and the universe-contraction by air. There are three boundaries of universe-contraction: the Radiant gods, the gods of Streaming Radiance, and the gods of Great Fruit. When the cosmic cycle contracts by fire, everything below the Radiant gods is burnt by fire. When it contracts by water, everything below the gods of Streaming Radiance is dissolved by water. When it contracts by wind, everything below the gods of Great Fruit is destroyed by wind. In detail, however, always one Buddha-field is destroyed. This is the summary here; but the detailed discussion should be understood according to the method stated in the Visuddhimagga.
7.
Commentary on the Discourse on Disease
157. In the seventh, "with vexation" means possessed of vexation, of suffering, on account of greediness. "Discontented" means discontented with the four requisites through three kinds of contentment. "For the attainment of non-contempt" means for the purpose of attaining non-despising by others. "For the attainment of material gain, honour and fame" means for the purpose of attaining material gain and honour, which is termed the well-prepared four requisites, and fame, which is termed the speaking of praise. "He approaches families with reckoning" means he approaches families for the purpose of being known, thinking "Thus these people will know me." The same method applies to the remaining terms as well.
8.
Commentary on the Discourse on Decline
158. In the eighth, "profound" means profound in meaning. "The possible and impossible" means reasons and non-reasons. "Does not penetrate" means does not immerse, does not proceed. "Eye of wisdom" - here, the wisdom of learning and inquiry is also fitting, and the wisdom of exploration and penetration is also fitting indeed.
9.
Commentary on the Discourse on the Nun
159. In the ninth, "Come, you" means she, being enamoured of the elder monk, said thus in order to send him. "Having covered up to the head" means having covered the body together with the head. "Lay down on the small bed" means having quickly prepared a small bed, she lay down there. "He said this" means having observed her demeanour, he said this in order to speak smoothly the talk on foulness for the purpose of abandoning greed. "Arisen from nutriment" means arisen through nutriment, grown in dependence on nutriment. "In dependence on nutriment, abandons nutriment" means in dependence on present edible food, wisely partaking of it thus, one abandons nutriment reckoned as former action. But even regarding present edible food, the craving of attachment is to be abandoned.
"Abandons craving" means now, in dependence on present craving thus occurred, one abandons former craving which is the root of the round of rebirths. But is this present craving wholesome or unwholesome? Unwholesome. Should it be cultivated or should it not be cultivated? It should be cultivated. Does it drag along conception in rebirth or does it not drag along? It does not drag along. But even regarding this present craving that should be cultivated, attachment is indeed to be abandoned. "That venerable one indeed, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, having attained, will dwell; why then not I" - here "why then not" is a reflection on the reason. This is what is meant - That venerable one, having realised the fruition of arahantship, will dwell; for what reason shall I not dwell having realised it? For that venerable one too is a son of the One Enlightened by himself, and I too am a son of the One Enlightened by himself; this will arise for me too. "In dependence on conceit" means in dependence on this conceit thus arisen that should be cultivated. "Abandons conceit" means one abandons former conceit which is the root of the round of rebirths. But that in dependence on which he abandons that, it too, like craving, is both unwholesome and should be cultivated, but it does not drag along conception in rebirth. But attachment even regarding that is indeed to be abandoned.
"The destruction of the bridge has been spoken of by the Blessed One" means the destruction of the foothold, the destruction of the condition, has been spoken by the Buddha, the Blessed One. Thus, when the elder monk concluded the teaching with these four factors, the desire and lust that had arisen in that nun with reference to the elder monk departed. She too, in order to ask the elder monk's forgiveness, confessed the transgression, and the elder monk accepted it from her. To show that, "Then that nun" and so on was said.
10.
Commentary on the Discourse on the Fortunate One's Discipline
160. In the tenth, "misapprehended" means taken out of order. "Learn thoroughly" means they use and speak them. "With phrasing" - here the term itself is called phrasing because it expresses the meaning. "Wrongly placed" means badly placed, arranged out of order. "The meaning too is wrongly inferred" means the commentary cannot be derived and spoken. "Cut off at the root" means cut off at the root because of the cutting off of the monks who were the root. "Without refuge" means without support. "Luxurious" means practising abundance of requisites. "Lax" means those who take up the three trainings with a loose grasp. "Forerunners in falling away" - the five mental hindrances are called "falling away" because of going downward; the meaning is forerunners therein. "In solitude" means in the threefold seclusion. "Having laid down the responsibility" means without energy. But by this method the meaning should be understood everywhere.
The Faculty Chapter is the first.