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

SN 46.24 Irrational Application of Mind

“Ayoniso, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando uppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppanno ceva byāpādo uppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannā ceva vicikicchā uppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati.

Yoniso ca kho, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando nuppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando pahīyati; anuppanno ceva byāpādo nuppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo pahīyati; anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ pahīyati; anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahīyati; anuppannā ceva vicikicchā nuppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā pahīyati.

Anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchatī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ayoniso, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando uppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati;

“Mendicants, when you apply the mind irrationally, sensual desire,

anuppanno ceva byāpādo uppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati;

ill will,

anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati;

dullness and drowsiness,

anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati;

restlessness and remorse,

anuppannā ceva vicikicchā uppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati;

and doubt arise, and once arisen they increase and grow.

anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati.

And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen, they cease.

Yoniso ca kho, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando nuppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando pahīyati;

When you apply the mind rationally, sensual desire,

anuppanno ceva byāpādo nuppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo pahīyati;

ill will,

anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ pahīyati;

dullness and drowsiness,

anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahīyati;

restlessness and remorse,

anuppannā ceva vicikicchā nuppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā pahīyati.

and doubt don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen they’re given up.

Anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchatī”ti.

And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity arise, and once they’ve arisen, they’re fully developed.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Drowsiness

Drowsiness

A heaviness or stiffness of the mind that leads to sleepiness. It shrouds clarity like a fog, making the mind unwieldy and prone to drifting away from its object.

Also known as: sleepiness, torpor, feeling lethargic, lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness)
Pāli: middha
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Dullness

Dullness

Mental stagnation and lack of driving power. It is an inertia where the mind feels thick and incapable of active engagement or investigation.

Also known as: lack of mental clarity or alertness, inertia, mental sluggishness, inattentiveness or lack of sharpness
Pāli: thina
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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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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