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

SN 46.44 Witless

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “‘duppañño eḷamūgo, duppañño eḷamūgo’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti?

“Sattannaṁ kho, bhikkhu, bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccati. Katamesaṁ sattannaṁ? Satisambojjhaṅgassa …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa imesaṁ kho, bhikkhu, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

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 asked him,

“‘duppañño eḷamūgo, duppañño eḷamūgo’ti, bhante, vuccati.

“Sir, they speak of ‘a witless idiot’.

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti?

How is a witless idiot defined?”

“Sattannaṁ kho, bhikkhu, bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccati.

“Mendicant, they’re called a witless idiot because they haven’t developed and cultivated the seven awakening factors.

Katamesaṁ sattannaṁ?

What seven?

Satisambojjhaṅgassa …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa

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

imesaṁ kho, bhikkhu, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti.

They’re called a witless idiot because they haven’t developed and cultivated these seven awakening factors.”

Catutthaṁ.

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
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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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Uplifting joy

Uplifting joy

An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture.

Also known as: heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment
Pāli: pīti
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026