This teaching is from the section The Planes of Realization from “In the Buddha’s Words” by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
Then, Venerable Sāriputta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. While Venerable Sāriputta was sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this to him:
“How many, Sāriputta, are the strengths of a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, with which a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me’?”
"Venerable sir, there are ten strengths of a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, with which a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’ What are the ten?
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Here, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, all formations are seen as impermanent, rightly, with perfect wisdom. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, sensual pleasures are seen as a pit of burning coals, rightly, with perfect wisdom. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the mind is inclined towards seclusion, leans towards seclusion, slopes towards seclusion, and rests in seclusion, enjoys renunciation, and is entirely freed from all mental qualities that are the source of the defilements. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the four establishments of mindfulness are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the four right efforts are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the four bases of psychic abilities are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the five faculties are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the five strengths are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the seven factors of awakening are cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
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Furthermore, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, the noble eightfold path is cultivated and well developed. And even this, venerable sir, for a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, is a strength, by which strength a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’
These, venerable sir, are the ten strengths of a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements, with which a bhikkhu who has exhausted the defilements declares the exhaustion of the defilements: ‘The defilements are exhausted in me.’"
[1] Formations refers to volitional formations, intentions, karmic activity. Seeing these as impermanent, unstable, unreliable is not a belief that is formed, rather through a well-developed practice of the areas outlined in these teachings, one discerns this to their fullest satisfaction.
[2] Similar applies for sensual pleasures. One discerns the discontentment and futility through all of one’s accumulated experiences and then lets go of pursuing them.
In both cases, the mind is incapable (unable) to attend to these and see a I/me/mine in them. It is similar to having seen how a magic trick is performed and then, one no longer sees the “magic” when the trick is performed on another occasion.
Related Teachings:
Gradual Training, Gradual Practice, and Gradual Progress (MN 107) - The gradual training guidelines teaching of the Buddha is how a student starting out in the teachings of the Buddha should gradually practice in to see gradual progress.
Gradual training and gradual progress: The Habit Curve - Correlating the gradual training guidelines with the current science of habit formation. Forming new habits requires efforts. However, it gets easier, automatic and second nature over time. Modern science shows picking up a habit takes 20-30 days and growing it fully to become second nature takes 50-60 days. One can apply this to the areas of gradual training guidelines that one needs to cultivate further.
The effects of cultivating the eightfold path are gradual (DhP 273) - While the gradual training guidelines offers a pragmatic way to practice and develop the eightfold path, understanding each component of the eightfold path can help with further alignment of one’s practice.