This chapter contains discourses that explore sets of seven qualities, concepts, or principles foundational to the Buddha's teachings. Each sutta examines groups such as the seven factors of enlightenment, the seven kinds of wealth, or the seven types of noble persons. These teachings highlight the significance of these elements in the practice of the Dhamma and their role in supporting spiritual development. The "Book of Sevens" offers deep insights into how these grouped qualities work together to guide practitioners on the way of practice to enlightenment.
The Book of the Sevens
The Buddha describes the seven powers in brief, of 1) faith, 2) energy, 3) conscience, 4) fear of wrongdoing, 5) mindfulness, 6) collectedness, and 7) wisdom.
The Buddha describes the seven powers in detail, of 1) faith, 2) energy, 3) conscience, 4) fear of wrongdoing, 5) mindfulness, 6) collectedness, and 7) wisdom.
The Buddha describes the seven kinds of wealth in brief, of 1) faith, 2) virtue, 3) conscience, 4) fear of wrongdoing, 5) learning, 6) generosity, and 7) wisdom.
The Buddha describes the seven kinds of wealth in detail, of 1) faith, 2) virtue, 3) conscience, 4) fear of wrongdoing, 5) learning, 6) generosity, and 7) wisdom. One who possesses these is not truly poor, and their life is not lived in vain.
Migāra of Rohaṇa is a wealthy man, but even his riches are vulnerable to the vicissitudes of life, unlike the seven kinds of wealth the Buddha describes which cannot be taken away.
The Buddha describes the seven underlying tendencies toward 1) sensual desire, 2) aversion, 3) views, 4) doubt, 5) conceit, 6) passion for existence, and 7) ignorance that are present in living beings.
The spiritual life is lived for the abandoning and complete uprooting of the seven underlying tendencies toward 1) sensual desire, 2) aversion, 3) views, 4) doubt, 5) conceit, 6) passion for existence, and 7) ignorance.
The Buddha describes seven kinds of persons and likens them to those in water — from those submerged in unwholesomeness to those who cross over fully. They represent the stages from spiritual stagnation to full awakening, including stream-enterers, once-returners, non-returners, and arahants.
The Buddha describes the seven grounds for wholesome inclinations, of 1) undertaking the training precepts, 2) attending carefully to the Dhamma, 3) removing longing, 4) seclusion, 5) arousing energy, 6) skilled mindfulness, and 7) realization of right view.
The Buddha explains seven things that lead to the decline of a trainee bhikkhu and seven things that do not.
The Buddha explains seven principles that lead to the decline of a lay follower and seven principles that lead to non-decline.
The Buddha explains seven principles that lead to the misfortune of a lay follower and seven principles that lead to success.
Seven qualities that lead to wielding mastery over the mind.
Endowed with seven qualities, Sāriputta wields mastery over the mind.
The Buddha describes the seven planes of consciousness, ranging from beings with diverse bodies and perceptions to those perceiving nothingness.
Seven perceptions, of 1) unattractiveness, 2) death, 3) unpleasantness of food, 4) non-delight in the whole world, 5) impermanence, 6) unsatisfactoriness in impermanence, and 7) not-self in unsatisfactoriness, that when cultivated and frequently practiced lead to the deathless, in brief.
Seven perceptions, of 1) unattractiveness, 2) death, 3) unpleasantness of food, 4) non-delight in the whole world, 5) impermanence, 6) unsatisfactoriness in impermanence, and 7) not-self in unsatisfactoriness, that when cultivated and frequently practiced lead to the deathless, in detail.
The seven wonderful and marvelous qualities of Nandamātā, a female lay disciple.