Wellbeing Cascade

Meaning

In suttas MN7, MN39-40, MN99, and MN118, the Buddha describes a specific sequence of spiritual evolution of well-being.

Certain virtuous habits (the so-called “five talents” or “five treasures”) give rise to a feeling of well-being (pamojja - pamojjam jayati). This feeling inevitably generates joy (piti), which in turn leads to bodily tranquility (kayo passambhati), followed by happiness (sukha), leading to concentration of mind (samadhi).

Like rain flowing down a slope, filling first streams, then rivers, and finally the ocean (see Upanisa Sutta) - the practice of the five talents leads to right concentration.

The spiral path

Another name for this is the spiral path, since right concentration leads to an even greater sense of well-being, and so on in an ascending spiral.

Luang Por Pasanno jokes: “We often think: once I learn to concentrate properly, I’ll be happy! But it’s the other way around: first happiness, then right concentration.”

Five foundations

The five foundations that nourish this cascade:

• Faith (saddha)
• Generosity (caga)
• Virtue (sila)
• Learning (suta)
• Wisdom (panna)

One can build them as sequential steps, but it is equally correct to develop them simultaneously. Success in one talent automatically strengthens all the others.