The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
The Four Noble Truths
1) Beginning Meditation (5-8 minutes):
Guided, bringing minds into the present, settling into our bodies, finding the
breath and following it, returning to the breath when the mind wanders,
short/long breath, entire breath body; breath-body only; breathing/knowing.
2) Brief Review of Last Week's Talk - The
Five Aggregates of Clinging and the Six Internal and Six External Sense Bases
3) Questions/Discussion from Last Week
4) Contemplation of the Dhammas - The
Seven Factors of Enlightenment
a) What are these factors? In brief,
they are:
i)
Mindfulness
ii) Investigation
iii) Courageous Effort
iv) Rapture
v) Tranquility
vi) Concentration
vii) Equanimity
b) Each one supports the arising of the
factors which follow it, as well as strengthens the factors which have preceded
it.
c) The forerunners
i)
Internal: Careful Attention
ii) External:
Good Friendship
d) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
i)
Mindfulness -- Sati
(1) Characteristic: non-superficiality; non-wobbling
(2) Function: non-disappearance; to keep the
object in view; not to forget
(3) Manifestation: confrontation, or guarding
(door-keeper of the sense doors)
(4) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: mindfulness (bare attention: bare
of decision, judgment and commentary)
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) Mindfulness and clear comprehension,
or broad-based mindfulness
(ii) Dissociation from unmindful persons
(iii) Association with mindful persons
(iv) Inclination of the mind toward the
development of mindfulness
(5) Comments:
(a) It
is cultivated by the intention to be mindful.
(b) One
moment of mindfulness conditions the next.
(c) After
it is established, trust it. Allow mindfulness to do it's job.
ii) Investigation
-- Dhamma Vicaya
(1) Characteristic: intuitive knowledge of the nature
of dhammas, also of nibbana
(2) Function: to dispel darkness
(3) Manifestation: non-confusion
(4) Hindrance Suppressed: Doubt (by Continuous Attention or
Rubbing)
(5) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: direct perception
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) To ask questions about Dhamma and
meditation practice
(ii) Cleanliness of internal and external
bases (the body and the immediate environment)
(iii) Balancing the controlling faculties
- faith, wisdom, energy, concentration, and mindfulness
(iv) Avoiding unwise persons
(v) Associating with wise persons
(vi) Reflections on profound Dhamma
(vii)
Commitment
to cultivating investigation
(6) Comments:
(a) It
is not a willful act trying to arrive at a conclusion.
(b) It
is an intuitive non-intellectual process based on mindfulness.
(c) It
is synonymous with insight or wisdom.
iii) COURAGEOUS EFFORT -- ViRIYa
(1) Characteristic: enduring patience in the face of
suffering and difficulty; marshaling (driving)
(2) Function: supporting/consolidating the mental
states
(3) Manifestation: a bold and courageous mind;
non-collapse
(4) Hindrance Suppressed: Sloth & Torpor (by Directed
Attention or Aim, which opens and refreshes the mind)
(5) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: wise attention
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) Reflection on the fearsomeness of apaya (the states of misery one can fall into in the
absence of effort, i.e., the "lower worlds": the animal world, ghost
world, demon-world, and hell)
(ii) Reflection on the benefits of effort
(iii) Reflection on and trying to match
the nobility of previous practitioners
(iv) Respect and appreciation for alms
food or other support one has received
(v) Reflection on the sevenfold heritage
of a noble person, i.e., faith, virtue, moral shame, moral dread, learning or
expertise in the theory and practice of meditation, liberality with respect to
relinquishing the kilesas (i.e., mental
defilements) as well as generosity in giving, and wisdom
(vi) Reflection on the greatness of the
Buddha
(vii)
Reflection
on the greatness of the Dhamma which links the lineage of Buddhas,
monks and nuns to oneself
(viii)
Reflection
on the greatness of those who practice brahma-cariya
(i.e., pure (chaste) or holy life), or the sangha
(ix) Avoiding the company of lazy persons
(x) Associating with energetic persons
(xi) Incline the mind toward developing
energy
iv) RAPTURE -- PITI
(1) Characteristic: happiness, delight and satisfaction
(2) Function: refresh the body and mind
(3) Manifestation: physical sensations of lightness;
elation
(4) Types: minor (raise hairs), momentary
(like flash of lightning), showering (waves), uplifting
(levitate) and pervading (fills the whole body like huge surge of surf
into a rock cavern)
(5) Hindrance Suppressed: Ill Will
(6) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: wise attention to being effortful
in bringing about wholesome feelings of rapture connected with the Buddha,
Dhamma and Sangha
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) Buddha anussati, recollection of the virtues of the
Buddha
(ii) Recollection of the virtues of the
Dhamma
(iii) Recollection of the virtues of the
Sangha
(iv) Recollection of one's own moral
purity
(v) Recollection of one's own generosity
(vi) Recollection of the virtues of devas and brahmas
(vii)
Reflection
on the peace of cessation of the kilesas,
either in nibbana, in the jhanas,
or in deep meditations one has experienced
(viii)
Avoid
the company of rough, angry and coarse persons
(ix) Cultivate friends who are warm,
loving and refined
(x) Reflect on the suttas
(xi) Incline the mind toward developing
rapture
v) TRANQUILITY -- PASSADDHHI
(1) Characteristic: calmness of body and mind; end of
agitation
(2) Function: to extract or suppress mental heat
due to restlessness, dissipation or worry
(3) Manifestation: non-agitation
of the body and the mind
(4) Hindrance Suppressed: Restlessness and Worry
(5) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: wise attention directed toward
developing wholesome mental states, especially meditative states, which allow
tranquility
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) Sensible and nutritious food
(ii) Suitable weather
(iii) Comfortable, but not luxurious
posture
(iv) Maintaining a balanced effort in
practice
(v) Avoiding bad-tempered, rough or
cruel people
(vi) Associating with calm and gentle
people
(vii)
Inclining
the mind toward the development of tranquility
vi) CONCENTRATION -- SAMADHI
(1) Characteristic: non-dispersal
(2) Function: to collect the mind
(3) Manifestation: peace and stillness
(4) Hindrance Suppressed: Sense Desire
(5) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: continuous wise attention aimed at
the development of concentration
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) Purity of internal and external
bases (cleanliness of the body and the immediate environment)
(ii) Balance of the controlling faculties
(iii) Skill in the concentration object
(applicable to jhana practice)
(iv) Uplifting the mind when it is
depressed
(v) Calming the mind when it is excited
(vi) Bringing happiness to the mind when
it is withered by pain
(vii)
Continuous,
balanced awareness
(viii)
Avoiding
unconcentrated people
(ix) Associating with concentrated people
(x) Reflecting on the peace of the jhanic absorptions
(xi) Inclining the mind toward the
development of concentration
vii) EQUANIMITY -- UPEKKHA
(1) Characteristic: the balancing of opposed mental
states
(2) Function: to fill in where there is a lack
and to reduce excess
(3) Manifestation: a state of ease and balance
(4) Ways of arousing:
(a) According to the Buddha: wise attention, i.e., continuous
mindfulness based on the intention to develop equanimity
(b) According to the Commentaries:
(i) An equanimous
attitude toward all living beings, not to be too attached to anyone
(ii) A balanced attitude toward nonliving
objects, such as property
(iii) Avoiding people who are deeply
possessive or otherwise lack equanimity
(iv) Association with those who are not
too strongly attached to beings or possessions, and who otherwise demonstrate
equanimity
(v) Inclining the mind toward developing
equanimity
e) Feeding/Starving - Ahara Sutta
(SN XLVI.51)
i)
Feeding the Hindrances
(1) Fostering
inappropriate attention to beauty feeds Sense Desire.
(2) Fostering
inappropriate attention to irritation feeds Ill Will.
(3) Fostering
inappropriate attention to boredom, weariness, yawning, drowsiness after a
meal feeds Sloth and Torpor.
(4) Fostering
inappropriate attention to non-stillness of awareness feeds Restlessness
and Worry.
(5) Fostering
inappropriate attention to phenomena that act as a foothold for uncertainty
feeds Doubt.
ii) Feeding
the Factors of Awakening
(1) Fostering
appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold for
mindfulness feeds Mindfulness. [See (d)(iv)(1)(d) above]
(2) Fostering
appropriate attention to mental qualities that are skillful and unskillful,
blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness and with
light feeds Investigation. [See also (d)(iv)(2)(e) above]
(3) Fostering
appropriate attention to potential for effort, exertion, and striving
feeds Courageous Effort.[See also (d)(iv)(3)(e) above]
(4) Fostering
appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture
feeds Rapture. [See (d)(iv)(4)(f) above]
(5) Fostering
appropriate attention to physical and mental serenity feeds Tranquility.
[See also (d)(iv)(5)(e) above]
(6) Fostering
appropriate attention to themes of calm and themes for non-distraction
feeds Concentration. [See also (d)(iv)(6)(e) above]
(7) Fostering
appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold for
equanimity feed Equanimity. [See (d)(iv)(7)(d) above]
iii) Starving
the Hindrances
(1) Fostering
appropriate attention to the theme of unattractiveness (Concentration)
starves Sense Desire.
(2) Fostering
appropriate attention to the release of the mind through lovingkindness
(Rapture) starves Ill Will.
(3) Fostering
appropriate attention to the potential for effort, exertion and striving
(Courageous Effort) starves Sloth and Torpor.
(4) Fostering
appropriate attention to the stillness of awareness (Tranquility)
starves Restlessness and Worry.
(5) Fostering
appropriate attention to mental qualities that are skillful and unskillful,
blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness and with
light (Investigation) starves Doubt.
iv) Starving
the Factors of Awakening
(1) Not
fostering appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold
for mindfulness starves Mindfulness.
(2) Not
fostering appropriate attention to mental qualities that are skillful and
unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness
and with light starves Investigation.
(3) Not
fostering appropriate attention to potential for effort, exertion, and
striving starves Courageous Effort.
(4) Not
fostering appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold
for rapture starves Rapture.
(5) Not
fostering appropriate attention to physical and mental serenity starves Tranquility.
(6) Not
fostering appropriate attention to themes of calm and themes for
non-distraction starves Concentration.
(7) Not
fostering appropriate attention to mental qualities that act as a foothold
for equanimity starves Equanimity.
5) Contemplation of the Dhammas - The
Four Noble Truths
so too, all wholesome states can be included in The
Four Noble Truths."(MN 28)
a) The
First Noble Truth - The unsatisfactory nature of experience (Dukkha)
i)
Function: To be fully understood.
b) The
Second Noble Truth - The origin of suffering (Depedent
Origination and Craving)
i)
Function: To be fully abandoned.
c) The
Third Noble Truth - The cessation of suffering (Nibanna)
i)
Function: To be fully realized.
d) The
Fourth Noble Truth - The path leading to the cessation of suffering (The Noble
Eightfold Path)
i)
Function: To be fully developed.
6) Questions
7) Assurance of Attainment
Let alone one year, bhikkhus, should any person practice these Four Foundations
of Mindfulness , in this manner, for seven
months .... six months .... five
months .... four months .... three
months .... two months .... a
month .... half-a-month, then he may expect one of two
results - highest knowledge here and now, or, if there still be a remainder of
clinging, the state of non-returner.
Let alone half-a-month, bhikkhus, should any person practice these Four
Foundations of Mindfulness , in this manner, for seven days, he may
expect one of two results - highest knowledge here and now, or, if there still
be a remainder of clinging, the state of non-returner.
Because of this, it has been said: "This is the only way, bhikkhus, for
the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for
the disappearance of pain and grief, for reaching the Noble Path, for the
realization of nibbana, namely, the Four Foundations
of Mindfulness."
This the Blessed One said. Glad in their hearts, the bhikkhus welcomed the
words of the Blessed
(emphasis added)
a) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
b) The
Ahara Sutta - Food (for the
Factors of Awakening)
9)
Online Resource: The Seven Factors of
Enlightenment by Nayaka Mahathera Piyadassi.
10) Closing Meditation
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