Overview
In the Abhidhamma, an “Indriya” (Faculty) is a controlling principle—a phenomenon that exercises supreme dominance over its specific domain. The ancient masters categorized all of physical biology, mental affective states, and supramundane spiritual attainments into a master list of 22 controlling faculties.
The List
The 6 Sensory Faculties:
- Eye faculty, 2. Ear faculty, 3. Nose faculty, 4. Tongue faculty, 5. Body faculty, 6. Mind faculty. The 3 Physical/Biological Faculties:
- Femininity faculty (itthindriya).
- Masculinity faculty (purisindriya).
- Life faculty (jīvitindriya - the vital force sustaining the body). The 5 Feeling Faculties:
- Pleasure faculty (physical).
- Pain faculty (physical).
- Joy faculty (mental).
- Grief faculty (mental).
- Equanimity faculty (neutral feeling). The 5 Spiritual Faculties:
- Faith, 16. Energy, 17. Mindfulness, 18. Concentration, 19. Wisdom. The 3 Supramundane Faculties:
- “I shall come to know the unknown” faculty (arises only at the Path of Stream-entry).
- Highest knowledge faculty (possessed by Stream-enterers up to the Path of Arahatship).
- “He who knows” faculty (possessed exclusively by Arahats).
Textual References
- Abhidhamma: Vibhaṅga (Indriyavibhaṅga) – The canonical analysis of how these 22 control the existence and liberation of beings.