Seven Factors of Awakening

In Buddhism, the Seven Factors of Awakening (Pali: satta bojjhaṅgā or satta sambojjhaṅgā;
Skt.: sapta bodhyanga) are:

Mindfulness (sati, Sanskrit smrti). To maintain awareness of reality (dharma).

Investigation of the nature of reality (dhamma vicaya, Skt. dharmapravicaya).
Energy (viriya, Skt. vīrya) also determination, effort
Joy or rapture (pīti, Skt. prīti)
Relaxation or tranquility (passaddhi, Skt. prashrabdhi) of both body and mind
Concentration, (samādhi) a calm, one-pointed state of mind,[1] or clear awareness
Equanimity (upekkha, Skt. upekshā). To accept reality as-it-is (yathā-bhuta) without craving or
aversion.
Monk meditating beside Sirikit Dam in Thailand.

This evaluation of seven awakening factors is one of the "Seven Sets" of "Awakening-related states"
(bodhipakkhiyadhamma).
37
4 4
DHAMMĀ of
The Pali word bojjhanga is a compound of bodhi ("awakening," "enlightenment") and anga ("factor").[2] ENLIGHTENMENT
Efforts Bases

5 5
Faculties Powers

Contents 7
Factors
8
Etymology
Path Factors
Pali literature
Sutta Pitaka
Abhidhamma and commentarial literature
Meditation
See also
Notes
Sources
External links

Etymology
Satta sambojjhaṅgā:

satta - seven;
bodh - an abstract noun formed from the verbal root *budh- (to awake, become aware, notice, know or understand) corresponding to the verbs
bujjhati (Pāli) and bodhati or budhyate (Sanskrit);
aṅga - a part of a whole; factor, cause.[3]

Pali literature
In the Sutta Pitaka's Samyutta Nikaya, the bojjhangas refer to wholesome, mundane factors leading to enlightenment. In the Abhidhamma and Pali
commentaries, the bojjhangas tend to refer to supramundane factors concurrent with enlightenment.[4]

Sutta Pitaka
According to one discourse in the Samyutta Nikaya entitled "Bhikkhu Sutta" (SN 46.5):

[Bhikkhu:] "Venerable sir, it is said, 'factors of enlightenment, factors of enlightenment.' In what sense are they called factors of enlightenment?"
[Buddha:] "They lead to enlightenment, bhikkhu, therefore they are called factors of enlightenment...."[5]

During meditation, one may contemplate the seven Factors of Enlightenment as well as on their antithesis, the Five Hindrances (sensual pleasure,
ill-will, sloth-torpor, restlessness-worry, doubt).[6] In addition, one Samyutta Nikaya sutta identifies developing each of the enlightenment factors
accompanied by each of the four brahma viharas (lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity).[7]

In the Samyutta Nikaya's "Fire Discourse," the Buddha identifies that mindfulness is "always useful" (sabbatthika); while, when one's mind is
sluggish, one should develop the enlightenment factors of investigation, energy and joy; and, when one's mind is excited, one should develop the
enlightenment factors of tranquility, concentration and equanimity.[8]

Again according to the Samyutta Nikaya, once when the Buddha was gravely ill he asked Venerable Mahacunda to recite the seven Factors of
Enlightenment to him. In such a way the Buddha was cured of his illness.[9]

Abhidhamma and commentarial literature

In the Visuddhimagga, in a section discussing skills needed for the attainment and maintenance of absorption (jhana), Buddhaghosa identifies the
bojjhangas in the following fashion:

"Strong mindfulness ... is needed in all instances...."

"When his mind is slack with over-laxness of energy, etc., then ... he should develop those [three enlightenment factors] beginning with
investigation-of-states..." (i.e., dhamma vicaya, viriya, piti).
"When his mind is agitated through over-energeticness, etc., then ... he should develop those [three enlightenment factors] beginning with
tranquility..." (i.e., passaddhi, samadhi, upekkha).[10]

Meditation
The seven factors of awakening are closely related to the practice of dhyana, resembling the Balancing enlightenment factors & hindrances
various factors that are part of the four dhyanas.[11] to be used when experiencing
Joy or rapture (pīti)
sloth & torpor (thīna-middha)
In meditation everyone most likely experiences two of the five hindrances (Pāli: pañca Investigation (dhamma vicaya)
to regain mindfulness
nīvaraṇāni). They are sloth and torpor (Pāli: thīna-middha), which is half-hearted action with Energy (viriya)
little or no collectedness, and restlessness and worry (uddhacca-kukkucca), which is the
the balancing factor
inability to calm the mind. Mindfulness (sati)

to be used when experiencing

As indicated above, in the "Fire Discourse" (SN 46.53), it is recommended that joy or rapture, Relaxation (passaddhi) restlessness & worry
investigation, and energy are to be developed when experiencing sloth and torpor. Relaxation, Concentration (samādhi) (uddhacca-kukkucca)
concentration, and equanimity are to be developed when experiencing restlessness or worry. Equanimity (upekkha) to regain mindfulness
Mindfulness should be constantly present to remain aware of physical change as well as mental
change in either skillful or unskillful direction.[8]

See also
Reality in Buddhism
Enlightenment-related dhamma
Five hindrances
Classical planet
Seven churches of Asia
Chakra
List_of_Mesopotamian_deities#Seven_planetary_deities

Notes
1. See, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), entry for "Samādhi,"
retrieved 3 Feb. 2011 from "U.Chicago" at "Archived copy" (https://arch
ive.is/20120709035335/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/get
object.pl?c.3:1:3397.pali). Archived from the original (http://dsal.uchica
go.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.3:1:3397.pali) on 2012-07-09.
Retrieved 2012-08-17. .
2. For instance, see Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 490, entry for
"Bojjhanga" (retrieved 10 Jul 2007). (http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/p
hilologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3371.pali)
3. Critical Pali Dictionary, aṅga (http://pali.hum.ku.dk/cpd/search.html)
4. Bodhi (2000), p. 1499.
5. Bhikkhu Sutta (SN 46.5), trans. Bodhi (2000), p. 1574. See also
Walshe (1985), n. 265. (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/wals
he/wheel318.html#n-265)
6. For an example of a discourse that includes the juxtaposition of these
two sets of phenomena, see the Satipatthana Sutta. For a group of
discourses in which these two sets of phenomena are juxtaposed, see
SN 46.31 to 46.40 (Bodhi, 2000, pp. 1501, 1589-94).
7. SN 46.54, variously known as the Mettaasahagata Sutta (CSCD) or
Metta Sutta (SLTP) or Metta.m Sutta (PTS Feer). See Bodhi (2000),
pp. 1607-11; Walshe (1985), sutta 59 (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/li
b/authors/walshe/wheel318.html#passage-59), pp. 71-73.
8. "Fire Discourse" (Aggi Sutta, SN 46.53) (Bodhi, 2000, pp. 1605-7;
Walshe, 1985, sutta 58 (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/wal
she/wheel318.html#passage-58), pp. 69-70).
9. Gilana Sutta (SN 46.16) (Piyadassi, 1999 (http://www.accesstoinsight.
org/tipitaka/sn/sn46/sn46.016.piya.html); Piyadassi, n.d.). (http://www.b
uddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bp_sut14.htm)
10. Buddhaghosa & Ñāṇamoli (1999), pp. 129, 131. Note that
Buddhaghosa clearly references the last six bojjhangas in the last two
cited statements. The first statement about sati (mindfulness), while
immediately preceding mention of the bojjhangas, is technically in
reference to the five spiritual faculties (indriya). See also SN 46.53
(Bodhi, 2000, pp. 1605-7; Walshe, 1985, sutta 58 (http://www.accesstoi
nsight.org/lib/authors/walshe/wheel318.html#passage-58), pp. 69-70).
11. Gethin, Tha Buddhis Path to Awakening, chapter five; Arbel (2017),
Early Buddhist Meditation

Sources
Bodhi, Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Pubs. ISBN 0-
86171-331-1.
Buddhaghosa, Bhadantacariya & Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (trans.) (1999). The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga. Seattle, WA: BPS Pariyatti
Editions. ISBN 1-928706-00-2.
Piyadassi Thera, Venerable (trans.) (1999). Gilana Sutta: Ill (Factors of Enlightenment) (SN 46.16). Retrieved 10 Jul 2007 from "Access to Insight"
at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn46/sn46.016.piya.html.
Piyadassi Thera, Venerable (trans.) (n.d.). The Book of Protection: Factors of Enlightenment (3), Maha Cunda Thera Bojjhanga. Retrieved from
"BuddhaNet.net" at http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bp_sut14.htm.
Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society's Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. A general on-
line search engine for this dictionary is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
Walshe, Maurice O'C. (1985). Samyutta Nikaya: An Anthology (Part III) (Wheel No. 318-321). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved
2008-11-09 from "Access to Insight" (2007, 2009) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/walshe/wheel318.html and, for an excerpted
version of the "Fire Discourse" (SN 46.53), at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn46/sn46.053.wlsh.html .
External links
Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Himavanta Sutta: The Himalayas (On the Factors for Awakening) (SN 46.1). Retrieved from "Access to
Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/samyutta/sn46-001.html.
Seven Factors of Enlightenment by Ven Vimalaramsi (http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books/Ven_Vimalaramsi_Seven_Factors_of_Enlightenment.h
tm)
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment by Ven Piyadassi (http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books3/Piyadassi_Thera_The_Seven__Factors_Of_Enlight
enment.htm)
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment by Ven Ariyadhamma (http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books11/Ariyadhamma_Mahathera-The_Seven_Factors
_of_Enlightenment.pdf)

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