Only Five

To avoid dropping back into the usual stream of things, Sayadaw suggests on page Fifty that one cultivate five 'controlling faculties'.  These are:

1. Faith
2. Effort
3. Mindfulness
4. Concentration and 
5. Understanding
   
   
   He also advises that all five must be in balance, that no one controlling faculty should be stronger than another.
   
   He then discusses faith, faith in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, faith in the teachings of the Buddha.  The yogi should think, 'Yes, Jhana can be obtained, yes a nimitta like fine cotton wool can be found.'
   
   I'm more down than ever for it.