# data[].attributes.body
In Autumn 2021 three groups of 6 or 7 Samatha meditators looked at the 5 five faculties of faith or confidence, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom.  In the final session the group members were asked to produce something creative to do with the 5 faculties and this padlet displays some of those contributions.  For some contributions in order to view them fully you will need to click on the box in the left lower corner e.g. PDF or PPTX.  You can also right click on an image or text and click on "expand post" to see a larger version.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This started off as a mind map and then I began to think about the adventure of trying to balance the faculties.

# data[].attributes.headline
My evolving understanding of the 5 faculties - a work in progress

# data[].attributes.subject
My evolving understanding of the 5 faculties - a work in progress

# data[].attributes.body
The background blue, which fades into the yellow and green, and is behind everything is faith or confidence. The green is mindfulness from which wisdom (the yellow) can shine. The black lines are right concentration and the brown lines are right effort (emerging from a basis of mindfulness and wisdom) and leading to stillness.

# data[].attributes.body
This PRAYER includes all the FIVE FACULTIES

SERENITY

or

Tranquility or Calmness in thought, word and deed needs

FAITH( SADDHA)

to surrender and accept what one cannot change in life.

COURAGE

Involves VIRIYA or EFFORT to change what one can

and

WISDOM or PANNA

to know the difference which can arise only in a state of

SAMADHI

which can be reached with the help of

SATI  ( MINDFULNESS)

and Stillness that can reflect the real nature of things as they  actually are,

to be able to KNOW the difference.

# data[].attributes.body
Reflected in a sound which is:
- peaceful, warm, reaching out: sad-dhaaaa…
- energetic, bold and strong: VI-RI-YAṂ
- crisp and evenly balanced: sa--ti -| firm, calm, but  encompassing: samaaaa…dhi
- exact, starting and stopping cleanly: /pañ-ñaa/

# data[].attributes.body
Haiku:
It stirs the heart:
Opening out to
The skilful

Just do it
Keep at it
No messing about

Fully present with
How
This unfolds

The mind
calmly collects
Here –
Nowhere else

Shining a light …
What is that I see
In the dark?

# data[].attributes.body
Fingers:
-little finger: small and can be overlooked, but essential. Closest to shrine when hands are in añjali
-thumb: strong, and enables one to pick up and hold what is skilful
-ring finger: bears that which connects
-middle finger: longest and central, like concentration is akin to the ridge-timber of a  roof
-index finger: that which points to what needs to be attended to

# data[].attributes.body
My presentation is in 2 files because of the file size limit - this is the second

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
images to remind me about the 5 faculties - file 2

# data[].attributes.body
Gestures:
- hands opening  out from the heart region
- a firm fist
- eyebrows raised in alertness, eyes flicking left and right observantly
- hands descending and joining in lap -
- cutting action, as wisdom cuts through delusions

# data[].attributes.body
Linked sense-faculty: |
- smell, which draws one to the source of attractive odours
- touch and the body, which can be strong and energized.
- hearing, which senses, in an all-round way, at a distance
- taste, which is direct, unified contact with what it senses
- sight, which senses in a clear and direct way

# data[].attributes.body
Saddhā: trustful confidence/trust/faith  -function: resolution -distinguishing marks: making serene & leaping      forward.
Viriyaṃ: vigour/ energy/mental strength/persistence/ sustaining engagement -function: exerting -distinguishing mark: consolidating/ supporting
Sati: -function:  establishing -distinguishing mark: not floating away or ‘reminding one to bear certain qualities in mind’ – an encompassing presence
Samādhi: concentration/ mental unific-ation/composure -function: not distracting -distinguishing mark: being chief (of wholesome  states)
Paññā: understanding/ discernment/ wisdom -function: ‘seeing' -distinguishing marks:  cutting off (of greed, hatred & delusion) & illuminating

# data[].attributes.body
My presentation is in 2 files because of the file size limit - this is the first

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
images to remind me about the 5 faculties - file 1

# data[].attributes.headline
                  The Spiritual Faculties as Images

# data[].attributes.subject
                  The Spiritual Faculties as Images

# data[].attributes.headline
The 5 Faculties : Circles within circles

# data[].attributes.subject
The 5 Faculties : Circles within circles

# data[].attributes.body
A circle is the perfect shape to show the inner and the outer: that which spreads outwards and that which contains, with circular movement.
With mindfulness both at the centre and around the edge, the other faculties seemed to relate to the four elements, each with their own colour.
The fifth element of space also arose.

# data[].attributes.body
The 5 Faculties

Whilst making a hot cross bun loaf  I was aware of the presence of each of the faculties :

I certainly needed Viriya as the kneading part of the process required  lots of effort and energy.  I started to think about the yeast and how it is also a form of Viriya as it is active and adds life to the recipe - without it the loaf would be airless and unleavened.

Samadhi arose whilst weighing out the ingredients and following the recipe.  I also focused on the task and tried not to let my mind wander.

I had faith (Saddha) in the recipe and felt confident the quantities of ingredients were correct and the loaf would turn out well.  This conviction enabled the task to flow seamlessly from one stage to another.

I thought about Panna, and wondered if it was present at all.  I realised it was there in the background, prompting me to check certain things i.e. was the yeast in date?  I had once made a similar recipe with out of date yeast and it was a failure.  I also thought back to a time when I had not allowed the mixture to prove sufficiently – this also resulted in a substandard loaf.  I used wisdom to learn from past mistakes.

Sati was present throughout the whole activity as I stayed aware and mindful of what I was doing with my hands – stirring, kneading, mixing, weighing.  I tried to stay ‘with’ the activity and not become distracted by other thoughts.

Overall, I found the whole process to be rather calming and I felt a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing.  I did not rush through each stage, I focused my mind and was in no hurry to complete task.  The end result was worth the effort.

# data[].attributes.headline
                                                                                                        I thought about the five faculties as a color.        In my opinion, for doing any work:                                                   1-being mindful                                                                                2-being wisdom                                                                              3-being concentrated                                                                                     4-Effort                                                                                          5- Faith                                                                           But to be mindful, wisdom, and concentrate would be an effort to learn it, and know about it ( I mean, before I joined Samatha, I did not know how to be mindful, wisdom and concentrated).                                                                                                                                                             

# data[].attributes.subject
                                                                                                        I thought about the five faculties as a color.        In my opinion, for doing any work:                                                   1-being mindful                                                                                2-being wisdom                                                                              3-being concentrated                                                                                     4-Effort                                                                                          5- Faith                                                                           But to be mindful, wisdom, and concentrate would be an effort to learn it, and know about it ( I mean, before I joined Samatha, I did not know how to be mindful, wisdom and concentrated).                                                                                                                                                             

# data[].attributes.body
The scissors: becoming free by using wisdom to cut through desire for sense pleasures, including the indulgence of telling myself stories about 'how it is', and over-theorising. This is a leap of faith, and means I'm free to meditate (=mindfulness and concentration).

The cloud-head: becoming free by persistently using energy and right effort to balance mindfulness and concentration in order for the meditation to be able to cut through sleepiness and ignorance.

The angry face: Having the faith to inspire me to balance mindfulness and concentration in order to produce the right effort that drops the idea of 'self', and thereby cut off anger by giving it nowhere to take hold (=wisdom).

The song is a handy way to keep an idea/reminder of all this in my head, as music is very 'sticky'.