The Buddha teaches how a mendicant develops the seven awakening factors—mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity—depending on and grounded on ethics, relying on seclusion, fading away, and cessation.

SN 46.130 Higher Fetters

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, uddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni. Katamāni pañca? Rūparāgo, arūparāgo, māno, uddhaccaṁ, avijjā imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcuddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvetabbā.

Katame satta? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṁ dosavinayapariyosānaṁ mohavinayapariyosānaṁ

amatogadhaṁ amataparāyanaṁ amatapariyosānaṁ

nibbānaninnaṁ nibbānapoṇaṁ nibbānapabbhāraṁ.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ime satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvetabbā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Oghavaggo terasamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Ogho yogo upādānaṁ,
Ganthā anusayena ca;
Kāmaguṇā nīvaraṇā,
Khandhā oruddhambhāgiyānīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, uddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni.

“Mendicants, there are five higher fetters.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Rūparāgo, arūparāgo, māno, uddhaccaṁ, avijjā

Desire for rebirth in the realm of luminous form, desire for rebirth in the formless realm, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcuddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni.

These are the five higher fetters.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvetabbā.

The seven awakening factors should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters.

Katame satta?

What seven?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe…

It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṁ dosavinayapariyosānaṁ mohavinayapariyosānaṁ

and equanimity, which culminate in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion. …”

amatogadhaṁ amataparāyanaṁ amatapariyosānaṁ

“… which have freedom from death as their objective, destination, and culmination …”

nibbānaninnaṁ nibbānapoṇaṁ nibbānapabbhāraṁ.

“… which slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment …

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ime satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvetabbā”ti.

The seven awakening factors should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters.”

Dasamaṁ.

Oghavaggo terasamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Ogho yogo upādānaṁ,

Ganthā anusayena ca;

Kāmaguṇā nīvaraṇā,

Khandhā oruddhambhāgiyānīti.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
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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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Formless

Formless

A meditative domain that transcends all perception of material form, progressing through the bases of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither-perception-nor-non-perception. These states represent refined levels of collectedness beyond attachment to physical phenomena.

Also known as: immaterial, surpassing forms
Pāli: arūpa
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Last updated on July 27, 2026