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 46.29 One Thing

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi, yo evaṁ bhāvito bahulīkato saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattati, yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattanti?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyā dhammā? Cakkhu, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyo dhammo. Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā …pe… jivhā saṁyojanīyā dhammā. Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā …pe… mano saṁyojanīyo dhammo. Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyā dhammā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi, yo evaṁ bhāvito bahulīkato saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattati, yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā.

“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that, when it is developed and cultivated like this, leads to giving up the things that tighten the fetters like the seven awakening factors.

Katame satta?

What seven?

Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo.

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

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattanti?

And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe…

It’s when 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.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā saṁyojanīyānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya saṁvattanti.

That’s how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyā dhammā?

And what are the things that tighten the fetters?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyo dhammo.

The eye is something that tightens the fetters.

Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā …pe…

This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise.

jivhā saṁyojanīyā dhammā.

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā …pe…

mano saṁyojanīyo dhammo.

mind is something that tightens the fetters.

Etthete uppajjanti saṁyojanavinibandhā ajjhosānā.

This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, saṁyojanīyā dhammā”ti.

These are called the things that tighten the fetters.”

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026