Bodhipakkhiyādhammā

In Buddhism, "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" (Pali, variant spellings include "bodhipakkhikā dhammā" and "bodhapakkhiyā dhammā"; [For the various Pali spellings, see Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, under the entries for "bodha" and "bodhi." In this article, the variants are listed from most frequently used to least, deduced from Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25) and other sources.] Skt.: "bodhipakIAST|ṣa dharma") are qualities ("dhammā") conducive or related to ("pakkhiya") Enlightenment or Awakening ("bodhi").

In the Pali commentaries, the term "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" is applied to seven sets of such qualities regularly mentioned by the Buddha throughout the Pali Canon. Within these seven sets of Enlightenment qualities, there is a total of thirty-seven individual qualities ("sattatiIAST|ṃsa bodhipakkhiyā dhammā").

These seven sets of qualities are recognized by both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists as complementary facets of the Buddhist Path to Enlightenment. [In 1967, the World Buddhist Sangha Council's "Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana" included the statement::We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to Enlightenment (IAST|bodhipakṣa-dharma) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment. (Rahula, 1974, pp. 100, 137-138.)]

Seven sets of thirty-seven qualities

In the Pali Canon's "Bhāvanānuyutta sutta" ("Mental Development Discourse," [The Pali word translated here as "development" is "bhāvanā". Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), p. 305 "n". 20 note: "The term '"bhāvanā"' (lit.:making become), usually translated as 'meditation,' is not restricted to methodical exercises in mental concentration but comprises the entire field of mental training." For elaboration on this point, compare the Wikipedia articles Buddhist meditation (regarding "mediation" and "mental concentraton") and Threefold training (regarding "mental training").] AN 7.67), the Buddha is recorded as saying::'Monks, although a monk who does not apply himself to the meditative development of his mind may wish, "Oh, that my mind might be free from the taints by non-clinging!", yet his mind will not be freed. For what reason? "Because he has not developed his mind," one has to say. Not developed it in what? In the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right kinds of striving, the four bases of success, the five spiritual faculties, the five spiritual powers, the seven factors of enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path.' [Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), pp. 192-3. Regarding the ordering of the seven sets, Bodhi (2000), pp. 1486-87, notes::"The presentation of the seven sets in a graded sequence might convey the impression that they constitute seven successive stages of practice. This, however, would be a misinterpretation. Close consideration of the series would show that the seven sets are ranked in a numerically ascending order, from four to eight, which means that their arrangement is purely pedagogic and implies nothing about a later set being more advanced than the earlier sets.... By presenting the course of practice from different angles, in different keys, and with different degrees of detail, the texts are able to finely modulate the practice of the path to suit the diverse needs of the people to be trained...."]

Elsewhere in the Canon, [For instance, these thirty-seven qualities are enumerated in SN 43.12 "The Unconditioned" (Bodhi, 2000, pp. 1374-78), where each quality is deemed "the path leading to the unconditioned" ("IAST|asaṅkhatagāmī maggo"), which is in turn defined as the destruction of lust, hatred and delusion ("IAST|rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo").] these seven sets of thirty-seven qualities conducive to Enlightenment are enumerated as:

Four frames of reference ("satipatthana")

# Contemplation of the body ("kayanupassana")
# Contemplation of feelings ("vedananupassana")
# Contemplation of consciousness ("cittanupassana")
# Contemplation of mental qualities ("dhammanupassana")

Four right exertions ("sammappadhana")

# Exertion for the non-arising of unskillful states
# Exertion for the abandoning of unskillful states
# Exertion for the arising of skillful states
# Exertion for the sustaining of skillful states

Four bases of power ("iddhipada")

# Will ("chanda")
# Energy ("viriya")
# Consciousness ("citta")
# Discrimination ("vimamsa" or "IAST|vīmaŋsā")

Five faculties ("indriya")

# Faith ("saddha")
# Energy ("viriya")
# Mindfulness ("sati")
# Concentration ("samadhi")
# Wisdom ("panna")

Five powers ("bala")

# Faith ("saddha")
# Energy ("viriya")
# Mindfulness ("sati")
# Concentration ("samadhi")
# Wisdom ("panna")

Seven factors of Enlightenment ("bojjhanga")

# Mindfulness ("sati")
# Investigation ("dhamma vicaya")
# Energy ("viriya")
# Joy ("piti")
# Tranquility ("passaddhi")
# Concentration ("samadhi")
# Equanimity ("upekkha")

Noble Eightfold Path ("IAST|Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo")

# Right View ("samma ditthi")
# Right Intention ("samma sankappa")
# Right Speech ("samma vacca")
# Right Action ("samma kammanta")
# Right Livelihood ("samma ajiva")
# Right Energy ("samma vayama")
# Right Mindfulness ("samma sati")
# Right Concentration ("samma samadhi")

Forty-three qualities

In the Pali Canon's Netti discourses 112 and 237, forty-three "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are enumerated which include the aforementoned thirty-seven plus:

* The three marks of existence:
# impermanence ("IAST|aniccasaññā")
# suffering ("dukkha")
# non-self ("anatta")
* abandoning [dukkha] ("IAST|pahāna")
* absence of desire, arahantship ("IAST|virāga")
* destruction [of mental taints] , nibbana ("IAST|nirodhasaññā") [Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entry on "bodhi," available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3377.pali (retrieved 2007-05-23).]

In the Pali literature

The technical term, "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā", explicitly referring to the seven sets of qualities identified above, is first encountered in the Pali commentaries;Regarding the use of the compound Pali term "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" in the canonical discourses, based on a search of the Sinhala SLTP tipitaka using the La Trobe University search engine at http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/pali.htm, the term "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" (and its variant spellings and declensions) was found in following nine discourses in the Sutta Pitaka:
# DN 27 ("Aggañña Sutta")
# SN 48.51 ("Sālā Sutta")
# SN 48.55 ("Sāra Sutta")
# SN 48.67 ("Rukkha Sutta")
# AN 5.56 ("Upajjhāya Sutta")
# AN 6.17 ("Kusala Sutta" or "Soppa Sutta")
# AN 9.1 ("Sambodhipakkhiya Sutta")
# Iti. 82 ("Devasadda Sutta")
# Iti. 97 ("Kalyāṇasīla Sutta")The Digha Nikaya (DN 27) and Itivuttaka (Iti., 82, 97) discourses each refer to "seven" ("satta") factors of enlightenment. In his translation of DN 27, Walshe (1995, pp. 415 para. 30, 605 "n". 854) interprets the "seven" to refer to the seven enlightenment factors ("satta bojjhaIAST|ṅgā") described in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta (DN 22). Conversely, in their translations of the Itivuttaka discourses, Ireland (1997) and Thanissaro (2001) interpret the "seven" as referring to the "seven groups of" or "seven [sets of] " factors of enlightenment, respectively. None of these three discourses themselves explicitly identifies which seven factors or sets of factors are being referenced. Moreover, the Anguttara Nikaya (AN 5.56, 6.17, 9.1) discourses neither numerically quantify nor elaborate upon the terms "bodhipakkhiyānaIAST|ṃ dhammānaIAST|ṃ", "bodhapakkhiyānaIAST|ṃ dhammānaIAST|ṃ" or "sambodhipakkhiyānaṃ ... dhammānaṃ" (respectively). Uniquely, in the three discourses from the Samyutta Nikaya (48.51, 48.55, 48.57), all three explicitly associate the term "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" (and variant spellings) solely with the five faculties ("indriya") of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom (Bodhi, 2000, p. 1695).

Perhaps summing up the vagueness and apparent inconsistencies in these identified discourses and their translations, in an end note to the "Sālā Sutta" (SN 48.51) Bodhi (2000, p. 1937 "n". 235) comments: "In the commentaries "bodhipakkhiyā dhammā" is the umbrella term for the seven sets of training factors repeatedly taught by the Buddha, but in the suttas the expression has a more flexible, less technical meaning." Bodhi then refers to Gethin (1992), pp. 289-98, for further discussion.] nonetheless, the seven sets of "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are themselves first collated, enumerated and referenced in the Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka. [For a survey of references to these qualities, see, for instance, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entries on "bodha," available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3372.pali (retrieved 2007-05-23), and on "bodhi," available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3377.pali (retrieved 2007-05-23). Bodhi (2000), pp. 1485-86, notes: :"In the Buddhist exegetical tradition, beginning very soon after the age of the canon, these seven sets are known as the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment ("IAST|sattatiṃsa bodhipakkhiyā dhammā"). Although this term is not used in the Nikāyas themselves as a collective appellation for the seven sets, the sets themselves frequently appear in the Nikāyas as a compendium of the practice leading to enlightenment."]

Sutta Pitaka

In the Digha Nikaya's famed "Maha-parinibbana Sutta" (DN 10), which recounts the Buddha's last days, in the Buddha's last address to his assembly of followers he states::"Now, O bhikkhus, I say to you that these teachings of which I have direct knowledge and which I have made known to you — these you should thoroughly learn, cultivate, develop, and frequently practice, that the life of purity may be established and may long endure, for the welfare and happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, well being, and happiness of gods and men.:"And what, bhikkhus, are these teachings? They are the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four constituents of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of enlightenment, and the Noble Eightfold Path. These, bhikkhus, are the teachings of which I have direct knowledge, which I have made known to you, and which you should thoroughly learn, cultivate, develop, and frequently practice...." [Vajra & Story (1998).]

In the Majjhima Nikaya's "Greater Discourse to Sakuludāyin" (MN 77), [IAST|Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), "The Greater Discourse to Sakuludāyin" ("Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta", MN 77), pp. 629-647, 1284 "n". 762; Upalavanna (n.d.-a); and, SLTP, n.d.-b] when asked why his disciples venerated him, the Buddha identified five qualities he possessed: highest virtues ("adhisīle ... paramena sīlakkhandha"); highest knowledge and vision (IAST|"abhikkante ñāṇadassane"); highest wisdom (IAST|"adhipaññāya ... paramena paññākkhandha"); his explanation of the Four Noble Truths ("ariyasaccāni"); and, his identification of numerous ways to develop wholesome states.The Buddha's elaboration of the last item included the seven sets of thirty-seven "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" which are enumerated individually in this discourse. [In MN 77, in addition to the seven sets of 37 qualities conducive to Enlightenment, the Buddha further identified his teaching of various meditative accomplishments (such as the jhanas) and his achieving higher knowledge (such as recollecting past lives) as contributing to his disciples' veneration. Note that the phrase, "ways to develop wholesome states," is not actually in the original Pali sutta itself but is a square-bracketed sectional title inserted by IAST|Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001) to demarcate the fifth quality set that the Buddha self identifies as the basis for his disciples' veneration.]

In the Samyutta Nikaya, the fifth division's first seven chapters are each devoted to one of the "bodhipakkhiya dhammas". While there is a great deal of repetition among these chapters' discourses, these seven chapters include almost 900 discourses. [Bodhi (2000), chs. 45-51, pp. 1523-1749. The number of discourses identified here is based on Bodhi (2000) – which includes 894 separate discourses – but the actual number of discourses varies depending on which edition of the Samyutta Nikaya one is referencing.]

In the Anguttara Nikaya's "IAST|Upajjhāyasuttaṃ" (AN 5.6.6), the Buddha recommends five things for a monk to overcome spiritual hindrances: control mental faculties; eat the right amount of food; maintain wakefulness; be aware of merit; and, develop the "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" throughout the day. [Upalavanna (n.d.-b), AN 5.6.6.]

In the Khuddaka Nikaya, the "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are mentioned at Iti. 82, [Thanissaro (2001), Iti. 82 is at available at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.3.050-099.than.html#iti-082 (retrieved 2007-05-22).] Th. 900, [SLTP (n.d.-c), stanza 900 in Pali: "IAST|Tassa dhamma ime honti kusalā bodhipakkhikā, Anāsavo ca so hoti iti vuttaṃ mahesinā." This is part of the stanzas ascribed to Anuruddha. Norman (1997), p. 90, translates the Pali as: "His characteristics are good, conducive to enlightenment, and he is without āsavas [mental intoxicants] ; so it is said by the great seer."] and Nett. 31, 112, 197, 237, 240 and 261. [Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), "op. cit".]

Abhidhamma Pitaka

The "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are mentioned in several passages of the Abhidhamma, such as at Vbh. sections 571 and 584 . [SLTP (n.d.-a), §§ 571, 584 (PTS pages 244, 249). Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entry for "bodhi," states that the "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are "mentioned at many other passages of the Abhidhamma."]

Commentaries

In the Visuddhimagga, Buddhaghosa enumerates the seven sets of "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" along with a relevant Suttapitaka discourse (Vism. XXII.33), describes each set (Vism. XXII.34-38), and describes their existence in the consciousness of an arahant (Vism. XXII.39-40). In addition, Buddhaghosa factors the 37 qualities in a manner so as to describe fourteen non-redundant qualities (Vism. XXII.40-43); thus, for instance, while nine qualities (zeal, consciousness, joy, tranquility, equanimity, intention, speech, action, livelihood) are mentioned only once in the full list of 37 qualities, the other five qualities are mentioned multiple times. Table 1 below identifies the five qualities spanning multiple "bodhipakkhiya-dhamma" sets. [Buddhaghosa & IAST|Ñāṇamoli (1999), pp. 702-705. Note that, whereas the Visuddhimagga orders the five redundant qualities listed in the table in order of ascending frequency among the seven sets (that is, from faith which appears twice among the seven sets to energy which appears nine times), the table below orders them in a manner consistent with the Five Faculties and Five Powers (from faith to understanding) to facilitate reader comprehension as there is potentially a developmental facet to this classical ordering.]

		7 SETS OF QUALITIES
		4 Frames of Reference	4 Right Exertions	4 Bases of Power	5 Faculties	5 Powers	7 "Bojjhanga"	Noble Eightfold Path
5 Q U A L I T I E S	Faith				"saddha"	"saddha"
	Energy		4 "IAST|samma- padhana"	"viriya"	"viriya"	"viriya"	"viriya"	"samma vayama"
	Mindfulness	4 "IAST|sati- paṭṭhānā"			"sati"	"sati"	"sati"	"samma sati"
	Concentration				"samadhi"	"samadhi"	"samadhi"	"samma samadhi"
	Understanding			"vimamsa"	"panna"	"panna"	"dhamma vicaya"	"samma ditthi"
"Table 1:" Five qualities mentioned 28 times across seven sets of qualities conducive to Enlightenment (based on Vism. XXII.41-43).

In terms of other Pali commentaries, the "bodhipakkhiya dhammas" are also mentioned in Dhammapada-atthakatha (DhA i.230), Suttanipata-atthakatha (SnA 164), and Jataka-atthakatha (J i.275, iii.290, and v.483). [Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), "op. cit."]

See also

* Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana
* Bojjhanga
* Four Noble Truths
* Four Right Exertions
* Satipatthana
* Three marks of existence
* Threefold Training

Notes

Sources

* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). "The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya". Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-331-1.
* Buddhaghosa, Bhadantacariya & Bhikkhu IAST|Ñāṇamoli (trans.) (1999). "The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga". Seattle, WA: BPS Pariyatti Editions. ISBN 1-928706-00-2.
* Gethin, R.M.L. (1992). "The Buddhist Path to Awakening: A Study of the Bodhi-Pakkhiyā Dhammā". Leiden: Brill. (Cited in Bodhi, 2000, p. 1937 "n". 235.)
* Ireland, John D. (1997). "The Udāna & the Itivuttaka". Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 955-24-0164-X.
*, Bhikkhu (trans.) & Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.) (2001). "The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya". Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-072-X.
* Norman, K.R. (1997). "Poems of Early Buddhist Monks (Theragāthā)". Oxford: Pali Text Society. ISBN 0-86013-339-7.
* Nyanaponika Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi (1999). "Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya". Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press. ISBN 0-7425-0405-0.
* Rahula, Walpola (1974, 2003). "The Heritage of the Bhikkhu". NY: Grove Press. ISBN 0-80214-023-8. Cited on http://www.serve.com/cmtan/buddhism/Misc/unify.html; retrieved on 2007-05-22 .
* 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 the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
* Sri Lanka Tripitaka Project (SLTP) (n.d.-a). "IAST|Jhānavibhaṅgo" (Vbh. ch. 12, in Pali). Retrieved on 2007-05-24 from "METTANET - LANKA" at: http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/3Abhidhamma-Pitaka/2-Vibhanga/12-jhanavibhanga-p.htm.
* Sri Lanka Tripitaka Project (SLTP) (n.d.-b). "IAST|Mahā-sakuludāyisuttaṃ" (MN 77, in Pali). Retrieved on 2007-05-22 from "METTANET - LANKA" at: http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima2/077-mahasakuludayi-p.html.
* Sri Lanka Tripitaka Project (SLTP) (n.d.-c). "Vīsati-nipāto" (Th ch. 20, gathas 705-948, in Pali). Retrieved on 2007-05-24 from "METTANET - LANKA" at: http://mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/5Khuddaka-Nikaya/08Theragatha/20-Satti-nipatha-p.html.
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2001). "The Group of Threes" (Iti. 50-99). Retrieved 2007-05-21 from "Access to Insight" at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.3.050-099.than.html.
* Upalavanna, Sister (trans.) (n.d.-a). "IAST|Mahā-sakuludāyisuttaṃ: Advice to the wandering Ascetic Sakuludayi" (MN 77). Retrieved on 2007-05-22 from "METTANET - LANKA" at: http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima2/077-mahasakuludayi-e1.html.
* Upalavanna, Sister (trans.) (n.d.-b). "Nīvaranavaggo – On obstacles" (AN 5.6). Retrieved on 2007-05-23 from "METTANET - LANKA" at: http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara3/5-pancakanipata/006-nivaranavaggo-e.html.
* Vajira, Sister, and Francis Story (trans.) (1998). "Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha" (DN 10). Retrieved on 2007-05-26 from "Access to Insight" at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html.
* Walshe, Maurice (1995). "The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya". Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-103-3.

External links

* Buddhist Encyclopedia (n.d.). "Seven Sets". Retrieved from "Buddhist Encyclopedia" at http://buddhism.2be.net/Seven_Sets.
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1996, 1998). "Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon". Retrieved 2007-05-21 from "Access to Insight" at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/index.html.