Dhamma Topics and their Analysis

Awakening Topics

20. Satta Bojjhaṅgāni
20. The Seven Factors of Awakening

from Bojjhaṅgasaṁyuttaṁ, SN 46.4

Sattime, āvuso, bojjhaṅgā.
There are, venerable friends, these seven factors of awakening.

Katame satta?
Which seven?

Ime kho, āvuso, satta bojjhaṅgā.
There are, venerable friends, these seven factors of awakening.

from Ānāpānasatisuttaṁ, MN 118

1. Yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave bhikkhu, kāye kāyānupassī viharati,
1. Monastics, a monastic who, at whatever time, dwells contemplating (the nature of) the body in the body,

ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ,
ardent, fully aware, and mindful, after removing avarice and sorrow regarding the world, This is part of the definition of mindfulness (sati) in the satipaṭṭhānasuttaṁ (DN 22, MN 10).

upaṭṭhitassa tasmiṁ samaye sati hoti asammuṭṭhā,
at that time has mindfulness established and he is not forgetful,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno upaṭṭhitā sati hoti asammuṭṭhā,
a monastic’s mindfulness is established and he is not forgetful,

satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the mindfulness factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

2. So tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati,
2. Living mindfully in this way he investigates that state with wisdom,

pavicayati parivīmaṁsaṁ āpajjati,
examining and entering into a deep enquiry (into it),

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhu tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati,
a monastic living mindfully in this way investigates that state with wisdom,

pavicayati parivīmaṁsaṁ āpajjati,
examining and entering into a deep enquiry (into it),

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the investigation (of the nature) of things factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

3. Tassa taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato,
3. For he who is investigating that state with wisdom,

pavicayato parivīmaṁsaṁ āpajjato,
examining and entering into a deep enquiry (into it),

āraddhaṁ hoti viriyaṁ asallīnaṁ,
there is an undertaking of unshaken energy,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato,
for a monastic investigating that state with wisdom,

pavicayato parivīmaṁsaṁ āpajjato,
examining and entering into a deep enquiry (into it),

āraddhaṁ hoti viriyaṁ asallīnaṁ,
there is an undertaking of unshaken energy,

viriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the energy factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

4. Āraddhaviriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā,
4. For he who has undertaken energy spiritual joy arises,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno araddhaviriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā,
for a monastic who has undertaken energy spiritual joy arises,

pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the joy factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

5. Pītimanassa kāyo pi passambhati cittam-pi passambhati,
5. For one who has a joyful mind the body is calm, and the mind is calm,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno pītimanassa kāyo pi passambhati cittam-pi passambhati,
a monastic has a joyful mind and a body that is calm, and a mind that is calm,

passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the calmness factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

6. Passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati,
6. For one with a calm body and happiness his mind becomes concentrated,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati,
a monastic has a calm body and happiness and a mind that becomes concentrated,

samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti...
at that time the concentration factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic...

7. So tathā samāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti,
7. He who has a well-concentrated mind in this way becomes completely equanimous,

yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhave
and monastics, at whatever time

bhikkhuno tathā samāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti,
a monastic’s well-concentrated mind in this way becomes completely equanimous,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti,
at that time the equanimity factor of complete awakening has been undertaken for that monastic,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti,
at that time that monastic is cultivating the equanimity factor of complete awakening,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno
at that time that monastic’s equanimity factor of complete awakening

bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.
is cultivated and heading towards fulfilment.

last updated: December 2016