Satipatthana Sutta Study

Dhammas: Awakening Factors

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[AWAKENING FACTORS]

"Again, monks,
in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas
in terms of the seven awakening factors.
And how does s/he in regard to dhammas abide contemplating dhammas
in terms of the seven awakening factors?

"Here,
if the mindfulness awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the mindfulness awakening factor in me';
if the mindfulness awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no mindfulness awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen mindfulness awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen mindfulness awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor in me';
if the investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen investigation-of-dhammas awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the energy awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the energy awakening factor in me';
if the energy awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no energy awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen energy awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen energy awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the joy awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the joy awakening factor in me';
if the joy awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no joy awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen joy awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen joy awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the tranquility awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the tranquility awakening factor in me';
if the tranquility awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no tranquility awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen tranquility awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen tranquility awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the concentration awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the concentration awakening factor in me';
if the concentration awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no concentration awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen concentration awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen concentration awakening factor can be perfected by development.

"If the equanimity awakening factor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is the equanimity awakening factor in me';
if the equanimity awakening factor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no equanimity awakening factor in me';
s/he knows how the unarisen equanimity awakening factor can arise,
and how the arisen equanimity awakening factor can be perfected by development.

[REFRAIN]

"In this way,
in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas internally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas externally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing in dhammas.

Mindfulness that 'there are dhammas
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That is how in regard to dhammas
s/he abides contemplating dhammas in terms of the five hindrances.

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Satipatthana Sutta Study - © 2005 Mary Rees
Sutta text modified from translation by Analayo. Please see his original translation and excellent commentary: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003.