With Udāyī · SN 46.21–46.30

SN 46.21 · To Awakening

SN 46.21 · Bodhāyasutta

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said to him:

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, they speak of the ‘awakening factors’. How are the awakening factors defined?”

“‘Bojjhaṅgā, bojjhaṅgā’ti, bhante, vuccanti. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti?

“Mendicant, they’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening. A mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. They’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.”

“‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā bojjhaṅgāti vuccanti. Idha, bhikkhu, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. ‘Bodhāya saṁvattantī’ti kho, bhikkhu, tasmā ‘bojjhaṅgā’ti vuccantī”ti.

SN 46.22 · A Teaching on the Awakening Factors

SN 46.22 · Bojjhaṅgadesanāsutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you the seven awakening factors. Listen …

“Satta vo, bhikkhave, bojjhaṅge desessāmi; taṁ suṇātha.

And what are the seven awakening factors? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven awakening factors.”

Katame ca, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo— ime kho, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā”ti.

SN 46.23 · Grounds

SN 46.23 · Ṭhāniyasutta

“Mendicants, when you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for sensual greed, sensual desire arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for ill will, ill will arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for dullness and drowsiness, dullness and drowsiness arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for restlessness and remorse, restlessness and remorse arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for doubt, doubt arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.

“Kāmarāgaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppanno ceva kāmacchando uppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati. Byāpādaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppanno ceva byāpādo uppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati. Thinamiddhaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati. Uddhaccakukkuccaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati. Vicikicchāṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppannā ceva vicikicchā uppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati.

When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for the awakening factor of mindfulness, the awakening factor of mindfulness arises, and once arisen it’s fully developed. … When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for the awakening factor of equanimity, the awakening factor of equanimity arises, and once arisen it’s fully developed.”

Satisambojjhaṅgaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṭṭhāniyānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchatī”ti.

SN 46.24 · Irrational Application of Mind

SN 46.24 · Ayonisomanasikārasutta

“Mendicants, when you apply the mind irrationally, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen, they cease.

“Ayoniso, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando uppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppanno ceva byāpādo uppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ uppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppannā ceva vicikicchā uppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati; anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nuppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo nirujjhati.

When you apply the mind rationally, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen they’re given up.

Yoniso ca kho, bhikkhave, manasikaroto anuppanno ceva kāmacchando nuppajjati, uppanno ca kāmacchando pahīyati; anuppanno ceva byāpādo nuppajjati, uppanno ca byāpādo pahīyati; anuppannañceva thinamiddhaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca thinamiddhaṁ pahīyati; anuppannañceva uddhaccakukkuccaṁ nuppajjati, uppannañca uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahīyati; anuppannā ceva vicikicchā nuppajjati, uppannā ca vicikicchā pahīyati.

And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity arise, and once they’ve arisen, they’re fully developed.”

Anuppanno ceva satisambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca satisambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… anuppanno ceva upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo uppajjati, uppanno ca upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchatī”ti.

SN 46.25 · Non-decline

SN 46.25 · Aparihāniyasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen …

“Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi; taṁ suṇātha.

And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? They are the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven principles that prevent decline.”

Katame ca, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā? Yadidaṁ— satta bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo— ime kho, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā”ti.

SN 46.26 · The Ending of Craving

SN 46.26 · Taṇhakkhayasutta

“Mendicants, you should develop the path and the practice that leads to the ending of craving. And what is the path and the practice that leads to the ending of craving? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.” When he said this, Udāyī said to him:

“Yo, bhikkhave, maggo yā paṭipadā taṇhakkhayāya saṁvattati, taṁ maggaṁ taṁ paṭipadaṁ bhāvetha. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, maggo katamā ca paṭipadā taṇhakkhayāya saṁvattati? Yadidaṁ— satta bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo”ti. Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

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

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

“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. As they do so, craving is given up. When craving is given up, deeds are given up. When deeds are given up, suffering is given up. …

“Idha, udāyi, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ. Tassa satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvayato vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ taṇhā pahīyati. Taṇhāya pahānā kammaṁ pahīyati. Kammassa pahānā dukkhaṁ pahīyati …pe…

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. As they do so, craving is given up. When craving is given up, deeds are given up. When deeds are given up, suffering is given up.

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ. Tassa upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvayato vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ vipulaṁ mahaggataṁ appamāṇaṁ abyāpajjaṁ taṇhā pahīyati taṇhāya pahānā kammaṁ pahīyati. Kammassa pahānā dukkhaṁ pahīyati.

And so, Udāyī, when craving ends, deeds end; when deeds end suffering ends.”

Iti kho, udāyi, taṇhakkhayā kammakkhayo, kammakkhayā dukkhakkhayo”ti.

SN 46.27 · The Cessation of Craving

SN 46.27 · Taṇhānirodhasutta

“Mendicants, you should develop the path and the practice that leads to the cessation of craving. And what is the path and the practice that leads to the cessation of craving? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to the cessation of craving?

“Yo, bhikkhave, maggo yā paṭipadā taṇhānirodhāya saṁvattati, taṁ maggaṁ taṁ paṭipadaṁ bhāvetha. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, maggo katamā ca paṭipadā taṇhānirodhāya saṁvattati? Yadidaṁ— satta bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā taṇhānirodhāya saṁvattanti?

It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. This is how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to the cessation of craving.”

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā taṇhānirodhāya saṁvattantī”ti.

SN 46.28 · Helping Penetration

SN 46.28 · Nibbedhabhāgiyasutta

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

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

And what is the path that helps penetration? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.” When he said this, Udāyī said to him:

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

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

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

“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. With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of mindfulness, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed, the mass of hate, and the mass of delusion for the first time. …

“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…

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. With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of equanimity, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed, the mass of hate, and the mass of delusion for the first time.

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.

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

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

SN 46.29 · One Thing

SN 46.29 · Ekadhammasutta

“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. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters?

“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?

It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters.

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.

And what are the things that tighten the fetters? The eye is something that tightens the fetters. This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise. The ear … nose … tongue … body … mind is something that tightens the fetters. This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise. These are called the things that tighten the fetters.”

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.

SN 46.30 · With Udāyī

SN 46.30 · Udāyisutta

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sumbhas, near the town of the Sumbhas named Sedaka. Then Venerable Udāyī went up to the Buddha … and said to him:

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sumbhesu viharati setakaṁ nāma sumbhānaṁ nigamo. Atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā udāyī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! How helpful my fondness and respect for the Buddha have been, and my sense of conscience and prudence. For when I was still a layman, I wasn’t helped much by the teaching or the Saṅgha. But when I considered my fondness and respect for the Buddha, and my sense of conscience and prudence, I went forth from the lay life to homelessness. The Buddha taught me the Dhamma: ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form. Such is feeling … Such is perception … Such are choices … Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante. Yāva bahukatañca me, bhante, bhagavati pemañca gāravo ca hirī ca ottappañca. Ahañhi, bhante, pubbe agārikabhūto samāno abahukato ahosiṁ dhammena abahukato saṅghena. So khvāhaṁ bhagavati pemañca gāravañca hiriñca ottappañca sampassamāno agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito. Tassa me bhagavā dhammaṁ desesi: ‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo; iti vedanā …pe… iti saññā … iti saṅkhārā … iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.

Then, while staying in an empty hut, I followed the churning of the five grasping aggregates. I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. I comprehended the teaching, sir, I acquired the path. This, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’

So khvāhaṁ, bhante, suññāgāragato imesaṁ pañcupādānakkhandhānaṁ ukkujjāvakujjaṁ samparivattento ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ. Dhammo ca me, bhante, abhisamito, maggo ca me paṭiladdho; yo me bhāvito bahulīkato tathā tathā viharantaṁ tathattāya upanessati yathāhaṁ: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānissāmi.

I acquired the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Each of these, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’ This is the path that I acquired which, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

Satisambojjhaṅgo me, bhante, paṭiladdho, yo me bhāvito bahulīkato tathā tathā viharantaṁ tathattāya upanessati yathāhaṁ: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānissāmi …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo me, bhante, paṭiladdho, yo me bhāvito bahulīkato tathā tathā viharantaṁ tathattāya upanessati yathāhaṁ: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānissāmi. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, maggo paṭiladdho, yo me bhāvito bahulīkato tathā tathā viharantaṁ tathattāya upanessati yathāhaṁ: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānissāmī”ti.

“Good, good, Udāyī! For that is indeed the path that you acquired which, when developed and cultivated by you meditating in just such a way, will bring you to such a state that you will understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

“Sādhu sādhu, udāyi. Eso hi te, udāyi, maggo paṭiladdho, yo te bhāvito bahulīkato tathā tathā viharantaṁ tathattāya upanessati yathā tvaṁ: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānissasī”ti.