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

SN 46.76 Cessation

“Nirodhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsāti.

Nirodhasaññāya, bhikkhave, bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitā. Kathaṁ bhāvitāya, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññāya kathaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitāya kho, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññāya evaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitāti.

Nirodhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattatī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Nirodhavaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Asubhamaraṇaāhāre,
Paṭikūlaanabhiratena;
Aniccadukkhaanattapahānaṁ,
Virāganirodhena te dasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Nirodhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.

“Mendicants, when the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā?

How so?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…

It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ 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, nirodhasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsāti.

That’s how, when the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated, it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

Nirodhasaññāya, bhikkhave, bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ

When the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results:

diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitā.

enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.

Kathaṁ bhāvitāya, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññāya kathaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ

How so?

diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitā?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…

It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

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

Evaṁ bhāvitāya kho, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññāya evaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ

When the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated in this way you can expect one of two results:

diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati upādisese anāgāmitāti.

enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”

Nirodhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati.

“The perception of cessation, when developed and cultivated, leads to great benefit … great sanctuary from the yoke … great inspiration … great ease.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, nirodhasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati?

How so?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…

It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

nirodhasaññāsahagataṁ 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, nirodhasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati, mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati, mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati, mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattatī”ti.

That’s how the perception of cessation, when developed and cultivated, leads to great benefit … great sanctuary from the yoke … great inspiration … great ease.”

Dasamaṁ.

Nirodhavaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Asubhamaraṇaāhāre,

Paṭikūlaanabhiratena;

Aniccadukkhaanattapahānaṁ,

Virāganirodhena te dasāti.

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