Bojjhaṅgasaṁyutta - Connected Discourses on the Factors of Awakening

The Buddha presents a simile of the nāgas, serpent beings, who rely on the Himalayas to nurture their bodies and acquire strength before entering the ocean, as a metaphor for the bhikkhu cultivating the seven factors of awakening to attain greatness and expansiveness of mental qualities.

Using the role of food as nutriment that sustains and endures the body, the Buddha describes the nutriments for the arising and growth of the five hindrances and the seven factors of awakening.

The Buddha explains the benefits of associating with virtuous bhikkhus and the development of the seven awakening factors.

Venerable Sāriputta explains how he can dwell in any of the seven factors of awakening at will, knowing their qualities and conditions. He likens this mastery to a king or royal minister freely choosing garments from a wardrobe for morning, midday, or evening wear.

When a bhikkhu asks the Buddha why the factors of awakening are called so, the Buddha gives a simple and direct answer, ‘since they lead to awakening.’

When the wanderer Kuṇḍaliya asks the Buddha about the purpose of his living the spiritual life, the Buddha describes a gradual path, beginning with sense restraint and leading to the experience of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation.

Just as dawn precedes and predicts the rising of the sun, so too does good friendship precede and predict the arising of the seven factors of awakening for a bhikkhu.

Just as dawn precedes and predicts the rising of the sun, so too does accomplishment in radical attention precede and predict the arising of the seven factors of awakening for a bhikkhu.

When the venerable Mahākassapa falls gravely ill, the Buddha visits him and teaches him about the seven factors of awakening. This inspired the venerable Mahākassapa to a swift recovery from his illness.

When the venerable Mahāmoggallāna falls gravely ill, the Buddha visits him and recites the seven factors of awakening. This inspires Mahāmoggallāna to a swift recovery from his illness.

When the Buddha falls gravely ill, the venerable Mahācunda visits him and recites the seven factors of awakening. This inspires the Buddha to a swift recovery from his illness.

The Buddha explains how frequently paying attention to certain things can lead to the arising and expansion of hindrances and awakening factors.

Attending superficially causes the five hindrances to expand and the awakening factors to cease. Attending radically leads to the abandoning of the five hindrances and the awakening factors to reach fulfillment.

The Buddha teaches that all wholesome qualities are rooted in radical attention. Supported by this radical attention, a practitioner is expected to naturally develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors, maturing in relinquishment.

The Buddha compares the impurities of gold to the impurities of the mind, which prevent it from being pliable, malleable, or radiant, and from being properly collected for the wearing away of the taints.

The Buddha shares the seven factors of awakening which are non-obstructive, non-hindering, and not impurities of the mind. When cultivated and frequently practiced, these factors lead to the realization of the fruit of liberation and true knowledge.

Attending superficially causes the five hindrances to expand and attending radically leads to the awakening factors to reach fulfillment.

The five hindrances are impurities weakening wisdom, while the seven factors of awakening are non-obstructions.

The Buddha describes the nutriments for the sustenance of the five hindrances and the seven factors of awakening.

The Buddha explains which factors of awakening are suitable to cultivate when the mind is sluggish or restless, using a metaphor of tending a fire.