Seven Factors of Enlightenment

In Buddhism, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Pali: "satta bojjhaIAST|ṅgā" or "satta sambojjhaIAST|ṅgā"; Skt.: "sapta bodhyanga") are:

* Mindfulness ("sati") i.e. to be aware and mindful in all activities and movements both physical and mental
* Investigation ("dhamma vicaya") into the nature of dhamma
* Energy ("viriya")
* Joy or rapture ("piti")
* Relaxation or tranquillity ("passaddhi") of both body and mind
* Concentration ("samadhi")
* Equanimity ("upekkha"), to be able to face life in all its vicissitudes with calm of mind and tranquillity, without disturbance.

This set of seven enlightenment factors is one of the "Seven Sets" of "Enlightenment-related states" ("bodhipakkhiyadhamma").

The Pali word "bojjhanga" is a compound of "bodhi" ("enlightenment") and "anga" ("factor"). [For instance, see Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 490, [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3371.pali entry for "Bojjhanga" (retrieved 10 Jul 2007).] ]

Canonical sources

In the Suttapitaka'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. [Bodhi (2000), p. 1499.]

During meditation, one may study, think and deliberate on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment as well as on their antithesis, the Five Hindrances. [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).]

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. ["Gilana Sutta" (SN 46.16) [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn46/sn46.016.piya.html (Piyadassi, 1999;] [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bp_sut14.htm Piyadassi, n.d.).] ]

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 tranquillity..." (i.e., "passaddhi, samadhi, upekkha"). [Buddhaghosa & IAST|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

* Five hindrances
* Enlightenment-related dhamma

Notes

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 IAST|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/.

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.