Samyutta Nikaya: Bojjhangasamyutta (46)

 

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are:

 

Mindfulness

Discrimination of States

Energy

Rapture

Tranquillity

Concentration

Equanimity

 

Mindfulness stands on it’s own.

Discrimination of States – Rapture: activating, to be cultivated when the mind is sluggish.

Tranquillity – Equanimity: restraining, to be cultivated when the mind is excited.

 

 

Relation of brahma-viharas to bojjhanghas. The b-v’s are used to cultivate concentrations, then one develops the bjs based on this concentration.

 

1 – 10: General descriptions of the bjs. Of especially importance are #s 9 – 10: the bjs do not arise apart from a Tathagata, or from the Dispensation.

 

11 – 20: More general listings, including settings in which the Buddha visits a sick monk or a monk visits the sick Buddha. #18 equates the bjs with the Noble Eightfold Path.

 

23 – 24: Places the five hindrances together with the bjs.

 

26: Places the bjs as leading to the destruction of craving, which leads to the avandoning of kamma—hence straight into enlightenment.

 

28: States that the bjs lead to the penetrating and sundering of greed, hatred, and delusion.

 

30: This one seems to explore the issue of faith (trust) rather nicely. Udayi says that he has obtained the various factors of enlightenment which, when he has developed and cultivated them, will lead him on…

 

35: Again the bjs as remedy for the hindrances.

37 – 40: Likewise.

 

53: Exposits those bjs which arouse the sluggish mind or which calm the excited mind. Mindfulness, the first of the bjs, is always useful—it isn’t either restraining or activating.

 

54: Brings in the brahma-viharas. From this sutta it would seem that the b-v’s are not unique to Buddhism.

 

Each of the bjs is dwelt upon, accompanied by one of the b-v’s.

 

57 – 75: A group of meditation subjects. They range from cemetery contemplations (bloated corpses) through the brahma-viharas and anapanasati through pre-perfection of wisdom. Ties in with Citta’s sutta about being different in phasing but ultimately same in meaning.