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The
Seven Factors of Enlightenment
Forerunners
External:
Good Friendship
Function: non-disappearance; to keep the
object in view; not to forget
Manifestation:
confrontation, or guarding (door-keeper of the sense doors)
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: mindfulness
According to the Commentaries:
1)
Mindfulness and clear comprehension, or broad-based
mindfulness
2)
Dissociation from unmindful persons
3)
Association with mindful persons
4)
Inclination of the mind toward the development of mindfulness
Function: to dispel darkness
Manifestation: non-confusion
Hindrance Suppressed: Doubt (by Continuous Attention
or Rubbing)
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: direct
perception
According to the Commentaries:
1)
To ask questions about Dhamma and meditation practice
2)
Cleanliness of internal and external bases (the body and the
immediate environment)
3)
Balancing the controlling faculties - faith, wisdom, energy,
concentration, and mindfulness
4)
Avoiding unwise persons
5)
Associating with wise persons
6)
Reflections on profound Dhamma
7)
Commitment to cultivating investigation
Function: supporting/consolidating the
mental states
Manifestation: a bold and
courageous mind; non-collapse
Hindrance Suppressed: Sloth & Torpor (by Directed
Attention or Aim, which opens and refreshes the mind)
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: wise
attention
According to the Commentaries:
1)
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)
2)
Reflection on the benefits of effort
3)
Reflection on and trying to match the nobility of previous
practitioners
4)
Respect and appreciation for alms food or other support one
has received
5)
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
6)
Reflection on the greatness of the Buddha
7)
Reflection on the greatness of the Dhamma which links the
lineage of Buddhas, monks and nuns to oneself
8)
Reflection on the greatness of those who practice brahma-cariya (i.e., pure (chaste) or holy life), or
the sangha
9)
Avoiding the company of lazy persons
10) Associating
with energetic persons
11) Incline the
mind toward developing energy
Function: refresh the body and mind
Manifestation: physical
sensations of lightness; elation
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)
Hindrance Suppressed: Ill Will
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: wise
attention to being effortful in bringing about wholesome feelings of rapture
connected with the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha
According to the Commentaries:
1)
Buddha anussati, recollection
of the virtues of the Buddha
2)
Recollection of the virtues of the Dhamma
3)
Recollection of the virtues of the Sangha
4)
Recollection of one's own moral purity
5)
Recollection of one's own generosity
6)
Recollection of the virtues of devas
and brahmas
7)
Reflection on the peace of cessation of the kilesas, either in nibbana,
in the jhanas, or in deep meditations one has
experienced
8)
Avoid the company of rough, angry and coarse persons
9)
Cultivate friends who are warm, loving and refined
10) Reflect on the
suttas
11) Incline the
mind toward developing rapture
Function: to extract or suppress mental
heat due to restlessness, dissipation or worry
Manifestation: non-agitation
of the body and the mind
Hindrance Suppressed:Restlessness and Worry
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: wise
attention directed toward developing wholesome mental states, especially
meditative states, which allow tranquility
According to the Commentaries:
1)
Sensible and nutritious food
2)
Suitable weather
3)
Comfortable, but not luxurious posture
4)
Maintaining a balanced effort in practice
5)
Avoiding bad-tempered, rough or cruel people
6)
Associating with calm and gentle people
7)
Inclining the mind toward the development of tranquility
Function: to collect the mind
Manifestation: peace and
stillness
Hindrance Suppressed: Sense Desire
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: continuous
wise attention aimed at the development of concentration
According to the Commentaries:
1)
Purity of internal and external bases (cleanliness of the
body and the immediate environment)
2)
Balance of the controlling faculties
3)
Skill in the concentration object (applicable to jhana practice)
4)
Uplifting the mind when it is depressed
5)
Calming the mind when it is excited
6)
Bringing happiness to the mind when it is withered by pain
7)
Continuous, balanced awareness
8)
Avoiding unconcentrated people
9)
Associating with concentrated people
10) Reflecting on
the peace of the jhanic absorptions
11) Inclining the
mind toward the development of concentration
Function: to fill in where there is a lack
and to reduce excess
Manifestation: a state of
ease and balance
Ways of arousing:
According to the Buddha: wise
attention, i.e., continuous mindfulness based on the intention to develop
equanimity
According to the Commentaries:
1)
An equanimous attitude toward all
living beings, not to be too attached to anyone
2)
A balanced attitude toward nonliving objects, such as
property
3)
Avoiding people who are deeply possessive or otherwise lack
equanimity
4)
Association with those who are not too strongly attached to
beings or possessions, and who otherwise demonstrate equanimity
5)
Inclining the mind toward developing equanimity
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