37_factors_of_enlightenment
Table of Contents
The 37 factors (sometimes called steps) of enlightenment:
(from Anguttara Nikaya 7.67, Majjhima Nikaya 103, Digha Nikaya 16)
The 4 Foundations of Mindfulness
- Mindfulness of body
- Mindfulness of sensations
- Awareness of mind
- Meditation on the Dhamma
The 4 supreme efforts
- Not to let an unwholesome thought arise which has not yet arisen.
- Not to let an unwholesome thought continue which has already arisen.
- To make a wholesome thought arise which has not yet arisen.
- To make a wholesome thought continue which has already arisen.
The 4 means to accomplishment
- Desire, zeal (wholesome) [Pali: chandha]
- Energy
- Consciousness
- Investigation
The 5 strengths
- Faith
- Energy
- Mindfulness
- Concentration
- Wisdom
The 5 faculties
- Faith
- Energy
- Mindfulness
- Concentration
- Wisdom
The Noble Eightfold Middle Path
- Right Understanding
- Right Thought
- Right Speech
- Right Action
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Concentration
The 7 factors of enlightenment
- mindfulness (sati)
- investigation of mental phenomena (dhamma vicaya)
- energy (viriya)
- joy (pīti)
- tranquillity (passaddhi)
- concentration (samādhi)
- equanimity (upekkhā)
Five frequently found qualities
This teaching / list from the suttas gets to the heart of the practice and teachings and is sometimes known as the “Wings to Awakening”. An analysis of it by Buddhaghosa (author of the Visuddhimagga) revealed several recurring concepts running through the 37:
- saddha (2 times) [faith, confidence]
- samādhi (4 times) [concentration, tranquility]
- paññā (5 times) [wisdom]
- sati (8 times) [mindfulness]
- viriya (9 times) [energy]
References
- The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
37_factors_of_enlightenment.txt · Last modified: 2024/04/28 03:15 (external edit)