The Buddha teaches on awakening factors, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.238 Awakening Factors

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni …pe… kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ …pe…

idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati? Satisambojjhaṅgo, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo, pītisambojjhaṅgo, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo, samādhisambojjhaṅgo, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, kammāni …pe… kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ …pe…

“Mendicants, I declare these four kinds of deeds, having realized them with my own insight….

idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhaṁ kaṇhavipākaṁ.

And what are dark deeds with dark results? It’s when someone makes hurtful choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark deeds with dark results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ?

And what are bright deeds with bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco abyābajjhaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ sukkaṁ sukkavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called bright deeds with bright results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ?

And what are dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco sabyābajjhampi abyābajjhampi kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti …pe… idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ kaṇhasukkaṁ kaṇhasukkavipākaṁ.

It’s when someone makes both hurtful and pleasing choices by way of body, speech, and mind. These are called dark and bright deeds with dark and bright results.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati?

And what are neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds?

Satisambojjhaṅgo, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo, pītisambojjhaṅgo, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo, samādhisambojjhaṅgo, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo

The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammaṁ akaṇhaasukkaṁ akaṇhaasukkavipākaṁ kammakkhayāya saṁvattati.

These are called neither dark nor bright deeds with neither dark nor bright results, which lead to the ending of deeds.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri kammāni mayā sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditānī”ti.

These are the four kinds of deeds that I declare, having realized them with my own insight.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026