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 46.28 Helping Penetration

“Nibbedhabhāgiyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, maggaṁ desessāmi; taṁ suṇātha.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nibbedhabhāgiyo maggo? Yadidaṁ satta bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo”ti. Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“kathaṁ bhāvitā nu kho, bhante, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā nibbedhāya saṁvattantī”ti?

“Idha, udāyi, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ. So satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvitena cittena anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ lobhakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti; anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ dosakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti; anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ mohakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti …pe…

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ. So upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvitena cittena anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ lobhakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti; anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ dosakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti; anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ mohakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, udāyi, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā nibbedhāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Nibbedhabhāgiyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, maggaṁ desessāmi;

“Mendicants, I will teach you a path that helps penetration.

taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nibbedhabhāgiyo maggo?

And what is the path that helps penetration?

Yadidaṁ

satta bojjhaṅgā.

It is the seven awakening factors.

Katame satta?

What seven?

Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo”ti.

The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, Udāyī said to him:

“kathaṁ bhāvitā nu kho, bhante, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā nibbedhāya saṁvattantī”ti?

“Sir, how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to penetration?”

“Idha, udāyi, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ.

“Udāyī, it’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factor of mindfulness, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will.

So satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvitena cittena anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ lobhakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti;

With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of mindfulness, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed,

anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ dosakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti;

the mass of hate,

anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ mohakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti …pe…

and the mass of delusion for the first time. …

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ.

A mendicant develops the awakening factor of equanimity, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will.

So upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvitena cittena anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ lobhakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti;

With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of equanimity, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed,

anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ dosakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti;

the mass of hate,

anibbiddhapubbaṁ appadālitapubbaṁ mohakkhandhaṁ nibbijjhati padāleti.

and the mass of delusion for the first time.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, udāyi, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā nibbedhāya saṁvattantī”ti.

This is how are the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to penetration.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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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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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026