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SN 46.5PTS SN 5.721 min read

A Monk

Bhikkhusutta

They’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 46.5Linked Discourses 46.5
  • 0.21. Pabbatavagga1. Mountains

0.3BhikkhusuttaA Monk

1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,1.3“‘bojjhaṅgā, bojjhaṅgā’ti, bhante, vuccanti.“Sir, they speak of the ‘awakening factors’.1.4Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti?How are the awakening factors defined?”

1.5“Bodhāya saṁvattantīti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccanti.“Mendicant, they’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.1

1.6Idha, bhikkhu, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe…A mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,1.7upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.1.8Tassime satta bojjhaṅge bhāvayato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati.As they develop the seven awakening factors, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.1.9Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.1.10‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’

1.11Bodhāya saṁvattantīti, bhikkhu, tasmā ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti.They’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.”

1.12Pañcamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. This is the consistent position of the Suttas: the awakening factors “lead to awakening”. The commentarial tradition redefines them as factors present at the moment of awakening, but this idea is not found in the Suttas.

    ↩ sn46.5:1.5