The pali word bojjhanga means factor of awakening or factor of enlightenment, and as awakening enlightenment bodhi is the ultimate aim of all serious buddhists, the seven factors constitute those properties required in the aspirant to further his or her awakening to the way things are. Come spend the weekend at ilas beautiful benedict canyon retreat house deepening your insight meditation practice with other meditators. The development of this particular quality of mind automatically develops all of the other factors. Buddhist essentials the seven factors of awakening. Thus this is a series of meditative contemplations to help support a direct experience of the factors. The seven factors of awakening through discussion and practical exercises of the seven factors of awakening, we will explore how awareness of these mind states helps us to let go of unwholesome tendencies and to cultivate wholesome ones, in both formal practice and our daily lives. In mystical and spiritual literature throughout the ages, deep states of consciousness have been described as having been achieved through the art of concentration which is exactly what were trying to cultivate in our meditation practice.
Feb 11 seven factors of awakening mountain view, ca patch. Concentration, or samadhi in pali, is the first of these stabilizing factors. The seven factors of awakening an 8week class series the seven factors of awakening are one category of spiritual qualities of heart and mind, frequently mentioned by the buddha as very beneficial for spiritual development. They help us to grow our ordinary, everyday capacity to not cling so it matures into an experience of liberating awakening. We have three concepts from the five spiritual faculties mindfulness, energy, and concentration and four that seem new but have already been touched on to some degree. Investigation of phenomena, silent observation of what is happening. This course examines the buddhas teachings on the seven factors of awakening. The seven factors of enlightenment access to insight. In this excerpt from last weeks call, karen is referring to the seven factors of awakening, below, one of the many buddhist lists which in this case constitutes a. The seven factors are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity. Overview seven factors of awakening stephanie noble.
Common ground meditation center seven factors of awakening. He went on to say that the seven factors of awakening, when developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation. The seven factors of enlightenment he tipitaka, the buddhist canon, is replete with references to the factors of enlightenment expounded by the enlightened. Seven factors of awakening common ground meditation center. It is the development and balancing of these wholesome factors that set in motion insight and. In this, the second session of the series, sharon talks about the following 3. The seven factors of awakening bojjhanga are closely related to the practice of the four frames of reference. Kassapa, these seven factors of enlightenment are well expounded by me. In practice, mindfulness has to be well developed to reach the stage of sambojjhanga.
It represents facing the difficulties of life without getting needlessly attached to them. Among the buddhas many teachings, his instruction on the seven factors of awakening stands alone for the cumulative benefits it makes available to us. They are also useful antidotes for the five hindrances, which quite regularly disrupt our meditation practice. Our effort must be focused on never repeating these harmful actions. The buddhas elaboration of the last item included the seven sets of thirty seven bodhipakkhiya dhammas which are enumerated individually in this discourse. In this framework the buddha offered a path that focuses on the ennobling and awakening qualities of heart that can be cultivated and brought to. The factors provide a sense of inner treasure that is a welcome alternative to all forms of clinging.
The buddha in the satipatthana sutta teaches contemplating the seven factors of awakening. In this excerpt from last weeks call, karen is referring to the seven factors of awakening, below, one of the many buddhist lists which in this case constitutes a pristine state of being from which we can awaken. In this sutta, each factor is contemplated as being present, not present, conditions leading the its arising and how it. Ive recently enjoyed leading a couple of longer residential retreats in new zealand and australia, exploring the teachings from the satipatthana sutta on the seven factors of awakening. Investigation of the nature of reality dhamma vicaya. When something bad happens and i get stressed out or angry about it, i am often making the situation a lot worse. There are, venerable friends, these seven factors of awakening. In the samyutta nikaya, the fifth divisions first seven chapters are each devoted to one of the bodhipakkhiya dhammas. The seven factors of enlightenment contains the essence of the bojjhanga sutta as explained by dhammajiva. Buddha taught the seven factors of awakening to reveal and encourage the ground that nourishes freedom. Audio dharma is an archive of dharma talks given by gil fronsdal and various guest speakers at the insight meditation center in redwood city, ca. In brief, the seven factors of awakening are as follows. The seven factors of awakening, the bojjhangas, are seven beautiful qualities that are naturally present in an awakened heart and mind. The seven factors for awakening a series of 7 dhamma talks following one of the sets of the buddhas fundamental teachings from the 37 wings to awakening.
Known as inner wealth, they are deeply valued as part of buddhist practice. Notice what opportunities arise to develop these qualities, and what appears to hinder you from doing so. You might draw up a list and then consider which are strongest for you. The seven factors of awakening the path of liberation laid out by the buddha is not one of selfjudgment,grasping, or acquisitiveness, but rather, one of balance. The buddha answered that he lives for the benefit and fruit of true knowledge and liberation.
When one has confidence in the triple gem there come into existence profound or systematic thinking, mindfulness and complete awareness, restraint of the senses, the three good modes of life, the four arousings of mindfulness, the seven factors of enlightenment and deliverance through wisdom, one after another, in due order. Each talk illuminates aspects of the buddhas teachings. These seven factors are considered the most important qualities in helping us along our spiritual path towards awakening our minds. The buddhas awakening when discussing the buddhas teachings, the best place to start is with his awakening. In the west, many think you dont need a guide book to realize your true nature. This series is a continuation of the seven factors of awakening series begun on february 11, 2020 that was suspended because of the coronavirus shelterinplace order. The seven factors of awakening mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimityare psychological qualities we can develop, as well as practices to be cultivated. He offers an uncompromising and intuitive clarification of their unfolding and instructs how the seven factors of awakening align to give fruition to a yogis spiritual quest. But just in case you care, we have been spending time in investigation, the second of the seven factors of awakening. Seven factors of awakening with shaila catherine for the mind that values freedom. The great teacher joseph goldstein tells us that the awakening factor of investigation vicaya is a refined quality of mind that discerns and illuminates the truth by means of discriminating wisdom. This class is part of a nine month series on some of the essential teachings of buddhism. The seven factors of enlightenment by venerable uda. The texts use two patterns to describe this relationship.
Monastics, a monastic who, at whatever time, dwells contemplating the nature of the body in the body, atapi sampajano satima, vineyya loke abhijjhadomanassa. Gil fronsdal talks about the seven factors of awakening. Buddhism is a path of wellness, and as we nourish the positive qualities of mind, negative afflictions will naturally diminish. The buddha taught of the seven factors of enlightenment. At the very center of the graphic chart of all the buddhist teachings are the three marks of existence. The seven factors of awakening is one of the buddhas main teachings. The seven factors of awakening ancient buddhist texts. To balance and perfect the seven factors of awakening is sufficient cause for awakening. The 2nd factor of awakening investigation by shell fischer. Cultivating and understanding the seven factors can deepen our practice and our commitment to awakening.
The seven factors of awakening the mindfulness path. The buddha enumerates that the firm establishment of sati mindfulness is the proximate cause for developing the factors of awakening. The path of liberation laid out by the buddha is not one of selfjudgment, grasping, or acquisitiveness, but. In the coming weeks, i plan to share the other five.
January 18, 2019 mary oliver meditation seven factors of awakening three characteristics three marks three poisons. The seven factors of awakening are qualities that lead us to awakening and also describe the awakened mind. The buddha enunciated a spiritual path for awakening, one where we manifest goodness, wisdom, and compassion. It describes the progressive path that a practitioner takes through successive w.
With mindfulness as their foundation, each quality builds one upon another, eventually resulting in freedom and happiness. This road map of liberation offered in the buddhas teaching outlines a path of cultivation that is the ground of profound understanding. Equanimity is probably the deepest one of the seven factors. In this, the first night of the series, sharon gives us an overview of the 7 factors of awakening and then goes into some depth. The buddha enumerates that the firm establishment of sati mindfulness is the proximate. These factors are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity. Buddhism is about enlightenment and mindfulness is already enlightenment. Just having this list in the back of your mind can be helpful. They are mindfulness, investigation, energy or engagement, joy, calmness, concentration, and equanimity. Over the last several weeks, weve been exploring the energizing factors of awakening. The seven factors of awakening enlightenment buddhanet. The ordinary and the seven factors of awakening insight. And the four foundations of mindfulness, when developed and cultivated, fulfill the seven factors of awakening. Part four in a series of talks on right effort, the sixth and often neglected step of the buddhas noble eightfold path.
When the seven factors of awakening are developed, nonclinging becomes more and more natural. The purpose is the same that the buddha had for his teachings, to guide us toward the end of suffering and the attainment of freedom. The seventh factor is mindfulness, the key to practice. Meditating and contemplating with these factors opens us to the potential of our unrecognized capacities and allows us to discover the extraordinary potential we have to awaken. We will now turn our attention to the stabilizing factors, which help balance the mind. I have therefore tended to emphasize certain aspects of particular factors, for example, acknowledging natural energy rather than only willpower, making awakening more accessible rather than explaining the higher stages, etc. We have also been cultivating mindfulness, the first of the seven factors. T he seven factors of awakening a n important buddhist teaching is one of the main keys to this awakening to our fullest potential. Seven factors of awakening thich nhat hanh dharma talks. In this weekend we will learn how to cultivate the seven factors of awakening to support the development of our meditation. So, we begin to see things as they actually are, and not as we imagine them to be. If we can bringour system into balance, it is believed, freedom, love and read more. When fully developed, they support us in embodying a life and way of being that is full of understanding and love.