The Seven Factors of Awakening

Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. At that time the Venerable Mahākassapa was dwelling on Mount Vulture Peak, afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. Then the Blessed One, having emerged from his seclusion in the evening, approached the Venerable Mahākassapa; having approached, he sat down on a prepared seat. Seated, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Mahākassapa:

“I hope it is bearable for you, Kassapa, I hope it is manageable. I hope the painful feelings are subsiding, not increasing. I perceive that they are subsiding, not increasing,”

he said.

“Venerable sir, it is not bearable, it is not manageable. The painful feelings are severe; they are subsiding, not increasing; I perceive them increasing, not subsiding,”

he replied.

“Kassapa, these seven factors of enlightenment have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna. What seven?

The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of energy, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of rapture, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of tranquility, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of concentration, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of equanimity, Kassapa, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna,”

he said.

“Surely, Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment! Surely, Well‑gone One, they are factors of enlightenment!”

he replied.

The Blessed One spoke thus. The Venerable Mahākassapa, delighted, rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words. And the Venerable Mahākassapa recovered from that illness. In such a manner, that illness of the Venerable Mahākassapa was abandoned.

At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground, together with a certain sick monk. At that time a certain monk was afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. Then the Blessed One, having emerged from his seclusion in the evening, approached that sick monk; having approached, he sat down on a prepared seat. Seated, the Blessed One said this to that monk:

“I hope it is bearable for you, monk, I hope it is manageable. I hope the painful feelings are subsiding, not increasing. I perceive that they are subsiding, not increasing,”

he said.

“Venerable sir, it is not bearable, it is not manageable. The painful feelings are severe; they are subsiding, not increasing; I perceive them increasing, not subsiding,”

he replied.

“Monk, these seven factors of enlightenment have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna. What seven?

The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of energy, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of rapture, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of tranquility, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of concentration, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of equanimity, monk, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

These seven factors of enlightenment, monk, have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna,”

he said.

“Surely, Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment! Surely, Well‑gone One, they are factors of enlightenment!”

he replied.

The Blessed One spoke thus. That monk, delighted, rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words. And that monk recovered from that illness. In such a manner, that monk’s illness was abandoned.

At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. At that time King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, was afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, addressed his assembly of ministers:

“Come, dear ministers, approach the ascetic Cunda. Having approached, in my name ask the ascetic Cunda about his health: ‘Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, is afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. He bows his head at the feet of the venerable ascetic Cunda, and says: “My illness is severe and painful.”’ And you should say: ‘It would be good, venerable sir, if the ascetic Cunda would approach King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, at Rājagaha, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park, out of compassion.’”

“Very well, Your Majesty,”

those ministers replied to the king, and they approached the Venerable Cunda. Having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Venerable Cunda. After exchanging friendly and courteous greetings, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those ministers said this to the Venerable Cunda:

“Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, is afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. He bows his head at the feet of the venerable sir, and says: ‘My illness is severe and painful.’ And he says this: ‘It would be good, venerable sir, if the ascetic Cunda would approach King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, at Rājagaha, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park, out of compassion.’”

Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Cunda:

“Come, Cunda, approach King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī. Having approached, recite the seven factors of enlightenment to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī.”

“Very well, Venerable sir,”

the Venerable Cunda replied to the Blessed One, and he approached King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī. Having approached, he sat down on a prepared seat. Seated, the Venerable Cunda said this to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī:

“Great king, these seven factors of enlightenment have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna. What seven?

The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of energy, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of rapture, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of tranquility, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of concentration, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

The enlightenment factor of equanimity, great king, has been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, it leads to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

These seven factors of enlightenment, great king, have been rightly proclaimed by me; when developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to full enlightenment, to Nibbāna,”

he said.

“Surely, Venerable sir, they are factors of enlightenment! Surely, Well‑gone One, they are factors of enlightenment!”

he replied.

The Venerable Cunda spoke thus. King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, delighted, rejoiced in the Venerable Cunda’s words. And King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, recovered from that illness. In such a manner, that illness of King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Queen Videhī, was abandoned.