The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly version based on original trans. by Ven. Piyadassi (accesstoinsight.org), Maha Kassapa Bojjhanga Paritta; Pali Kanon

The Buddha on stone slab/bed rock in Maha Kassapa's Pippali Cave (sirimangalo.org)

 

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One (Bhagavān, the Buddha) was living near Rajagaha (Rajgir, India) in the Bamboo Grove at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.

At that time Ven. Maha Kassapa, living in Pipphali Cave, was afflicted with a grievous illness, suffering, gravely ill.

Then the Blessed One, arising from his solitude [emerging from deep meditation] in the evening visited Maha Kassapa and sat down on a prepared seat for him. Seated, the Blessed One spoke to Maha Kassapa:

"Well, Kassapa, how is it with you? Are you bearing up and enduring [this pain]? Do these pains decrease or increase? Are there signs of these pains decreasing and not of increasing?"

"No, venerable sir. I am not bearing up, I am not enduring, the pain is very great. There are signs not of these pains decreasing but increasing."

Close to Pipphali Cave are the Saptaparni Caves where "Buddhism" began, where a great number of enlightened monastics were convened by Ven. Maha Kassapa for the First Council after the Buddha's passing into final nirvana.

 

Rajgir, royal city ringed by seven hills.

"Kassapa, these Seven Factors of Enlightenment are well expounded and are cultivated and fully developed by me. They conduce to right understanding, to full realization (of the Four  Noble  Truths, which results in enlightenment) and to nirvana. What are these seven?

i. "Mindfulness, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me; it conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana [called nibbana in Pali].

• This sutra is usually uttered as a "PROTECTIVE CHANT" (paritta) in the exclusively Buddhist language of Pali: Sati, sambojjhanga kho, Kassapa, maya samma dakkita bhavita bahuligata; abhinaya, sambodaya, nibbanaya, samvattati.

ii. "Keen investigation of phenomena (dhamma-vicaya and/or of the Buddha's Dharma), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

iii. "Persevering effort (energy), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

iv. "Rapture (bliss), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

v. "Calm (tranquility, samatha), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

Even today, Theravada monastics use peaceful caves to practice (Sasin Tipchai/Bugphai).

 

vi. "Concentration (mental coherence, collectedness, full focus, meditative absorption), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

vii. "Equanimity (unbiased onlooking), the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to right understanding, to full realization and to nirvana.

"These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, are well expounded by me and are cultivated and fully developed by me. They conduce to right understanding (right view, ditthi), to full realization and to nirvana."

"Most assuredly, O Blessed One, they are factors of enlightenment! Most assuredly, O Welcome One (Sugata), they are factors of enlightenment!"

Thus said the Buddha, and Ven. Maha Kassapa glad at heart approved of these utterances. Thereupon, Ven. Maha Kassapa recovered from that affliction, and Maha Kassapa's affliction disappeared then and there.

Why is this sutra so famous?
Wisdom Quarterly (COMMENTARY)

Shakyamuni Buddha, Thailand

This discourse (sutra) -- which became an even more famous "protective chant" (paritta) is renowned because of three things that happened.

Not only was the Buddha's eminent disciple Ven. Maha Kassapa -- "Father of the Sangha" -- healed by hearing it/bringing it to mind, the same happened to one of the Buddha's four chief disciples, the one "foremost in magical powers" Ven. Maha Moggallana, and then to the Buddha himself!

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove by the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. At that time Ven. Maha Moggallana, who was living on Gijjhakuta Hill (Vultures' Peak, where the Buddha often resided), was afflicted with a disease. He was in great pain and gravely ill. Then the Blessed One, emerging from his solitude (meditative absorption) in the evening, visited Maha Moggallana and sat down on a seat prepared for him... (This sutra continues exactly as the previous discourse replacing "Maha Kassapa" with the name "Maha Moggallana").

Buddhist (and Jain) Rajgir still exists as a functioning city in Bihar, India (iloveindia.com)