The Buddha teaches on the seven awakening factors regarding to awakening, guiding mendicants to develop mindfulness through equanimity for the ending of defilements.

SN 46.21 To Awakening

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“‘Bojjhaṅgā, bojjhaṅgā’ti, bhante, vuccanti. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti?

“‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā bojjhaṅgāti vuccanti. Idha, bhikkhu, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. ‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said to him:

“‘Bojjhaṅgā, bojjhaṅgā’ti, bhante, vuccanti.

“Sir, they speak of the ‘awakening factors’.

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti?

How are the awakening factors defined?”

“‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā bojjhaṅgāti vuccanti.

“Mendicant, they’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.

Idha, bhikkhu, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe…

A mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti.

They’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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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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Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
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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