five roots ［五根］ ( go-kon): Five kinds of action or cause that are conducive to enlightenment. The root of faith, the root of exertion, the root of memory, the root of meditation, and the root of wisdom. The five roots are often listed simply as faith, exertion, memory, meditation, and wisdom. Practice of the five roots gives rise to the five powers, which are similarly named. The five roots and the five powers together constitute ten of the thirty-seven aids to the way, or the thirty-seven practices leading to enlightenment. See also five powers; thirty-seven aids to the way.