Factors of Enlightenment

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four foundations of mindfulness. Here a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. He abides contemplating feelings as feelings. He abides contemplating mind as mind. He abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. And thereby many disciples of mine abode having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.

The Four Right Kinds of Striving
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four right kinds of striving. Here a bhikkhu awakens zeal for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, and he makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. He awakens zeal for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states. He awakens zeal for the arising of unarisen wholesome states. He awakens zeal for the continuance, non-disappearance, strengthening, increase, and fulfillment by development of arisen wholesome states, and he makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.


The Four Bases for Spiritual Power
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four bases for spiritual power. Here a bhikkhu develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to zeal and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to energy and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to [purity of] mind and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to investigation and determined striving. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.

The Five Faculties
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the five spiritual faculties. Here a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. He develops the faculty of energy. The faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, the faculty of wisdom, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.


The Five Powers
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the five powers. Here a bhikkhu develops the power of faith, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. He develops the power of energy. The power of mindfulness, the power of concentration, the power of wisdom, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.


The Seven Enlightenment Factors
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the seven enlightenment factors. Here a bhikkhu develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and results in relinquishment. He develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor, the energy enlightenment factor, the rapture enlightenment factor…the tranquility enlightenment factor, the concentration enlightenment factor, the equanimity enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and results in relinquishment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.


The Noble Eightfold Path
Again, Udayin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the Noble Eightfold Path. Here a bhikkhu develops right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
~ The Buddha MN 77





37 FACTORS OF ENLIGHTENMENT
  • 4 Foundations of Mindfulness
  • 4 Supreme Efforts
  • 4 Means of Accomplishment
  • 5 Forces
  • 5 Faculties
  • 7 Constituents of Enlightenment
  • 8-Fold Path

    4 FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS (4 Frames of Reference)
    • Contemplation of body
    • Contemplation of feelings
    • Contemplation of thoughts
    • Contemplation of phenomena
                 (Refer to the 4 Frames of Reference in the Mindfulness topic - 29 for more details.)
    4 SUPREME EFFORTS
    • Prevent evil that has not arisen
    • Discard evil that has arisen
    • Cultivate good that has not arisen
    • Promote good that has arisen
    4 MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
    • Will
    • Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    • Thought
    • Wisdom
    5 FORCES
    • Faith/Confidence
    • Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    • Mindfulness
    • Concentration
    • Wisdom
    5 FACULTIES
    • Faith/Confidence
    • Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    • Mindfulness
    • Concentration
    • Wisdom
    7 CONSTITUENTS OF ENLIGHTENMENT
    • Mindfulness (4 foundations)
    • Investigation of the Dhamma
    • Effort (4 Supreme Efforts)
    • Joy
    • Serenity
    • Concentration (4 Jhanas)
    • Equanimity
    8-FOLD PATH / MIDDLE WAY / NOBLE 8-FOLD PATH
    • Right understanding
    • Right thoughts
    • Right speech
    • Right action
    • Right livelihood
    • Right effort
    • Right mindfulness
    • Right concentration
    (Refer to the Noble 8-Fold Path topic - 27 for more details.)
MN 77 Mahasakuludayi Sutta: The Greater Discourse to Sakuludayin © Bhikkhu Bodhi 1995, 2001. Reprinted from The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya.