The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (sutra)

Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Ven. Piyadassi Thera (trans.), Gilana Sutra: "Ill" on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (SN 46.14); Patrick Dass

Buddhist cave in the forest of Phetburi, Thailand, a Theravada country (huffingtonpost.com)

Theravada novice-monks in Burma read the Dharma by candlelight (Cesar_Losada/flickr).

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Land of the Medicine Buddha, Soquel

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Rajagaha [the "Royal City" rung by seven hills], in the Bamboo Grove, in the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
 
At that time Venerable Maha Kassapa, who was living in the Pipphali Cave [pipphali guha, on a nearby hill close to the famous Vulture Peak, named after the shadows cast by the shape of the rocks], was afflicted with a grave illness and was suffering from some disease.

Vulture Peak, a hill where the Buddha often resided in Rajgir, India. The small structure designates where Buddha used to stay. Picture taken from a neighboring hill. The valley below is where the outskirts of the old city of Rajagaha used to be (Griddhraj Parvat/wiki).

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Then the Blessed One arising from his solitude at eventide visited Maha Kassapa and sat down on a seat made ready (for him). Seated there the Blessed One spoke to him:

Novices in cave with the Buddha (Nadia Isakova)

"Well, Kassapa, how is it with you? Are you bearing up, are you enduring (this suffering)? Do your pains decrease or increase? Are there signs of your pains falling back and not advancing?"

"No, venerable sir, I am not bearing up, I am not enduring. The pain is very great. There is a sign not of pains decreasing but of increasing."

"Kassapa, these Seven Factors of Enlightenment are well expounded by me and are cultivated and fully developed by me. They conduce to perfect understanding, to full realization, (of the liberating/ennobling Four Noble Truths) and to Nibbana. What are the seven?"

How will we engineer our awakening?

1. "Mindfulness, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to perfect understanding, to full realization, and to nirvana."

2. "Investigation of [phenomena], the factor of enlightenment...and to nirvana."

3. "Persevering-effort, the factor of enlightenment...and to nirvana."

4. "Rapture, the factor of enlightenment...and to nirvana."

5. "Calm, the factor of enlightenment...and to nirvana."

6. "Concentration [the first four absorptions, or rupa jhanas, constitute the right-concentration of the Noble Eightfold Path], the factor of enlightenment...and to nirvana."

Woodland animals can sense peace.

7. "Equanimity, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces to perfect 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 perfect understanding, to full realization, and to nirvana."

"Most assuredly, O Blessed One, they are factor 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 the utterances of the Buddha. Thereupon, Ven. Kassapa recovered from that affliction, and that affliction, of Ven. Kassapa disappeared. [The same is recounted for Ven. Maha Moggalana, foremost in psychic powers].

Even when the Buddha got physically sick
Wisdom Quarterly English translation (SN 46.14), Bojjhanga Paritta, a summary of the Gilana Sutras on "Illness" and the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, a "protective chant"
(Buddhist Devotion) Bojjanga Piritha, devotional protective chant of the Maha Kassapa and other bojjhanga sutras.

Tibetan novices gather round Medicine Buddha

Having known by direct experience the seven kinds of dharma called the "Factors of Enlightenment" that destroy ALL suffering and rebirth for beings who wander through this Wheel of Life and Death (samsara), they defeat the army of Mara, the Killer [who obstructs awakening and keeps one cycling in ignorance through the planes of disappointment and suffering], these excellent persons were liberated from endless wandering through the "three spheres" [Sensual Sphere, Fine Material Sphere, and Immaterial Sphere, the kama-, rupa-, and arupa-lokas]. They have realized nirvana and gone beyond all rebirth, aging, suffering, death, and danger.

O, good people! Let us recite this Bojjhanga Sutra, which is endowed with the aforementioned attributes, which gives not a few benefits and which is like medicine and a mantra.

These seven factors of enlightenment -- namely, mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, effort (energy), rapture (joy), tranquility (serenity), concentration, and equanimity, which are all well-expounded by the All Seeing Sage -- promote, when practiced consistently, penetration of the Truth, cessation of suffering, and direct knowledge of the path to enlightenment. By this utterance of Truth may there always be happiness for you.

Once the Buddha saw Maha Moggalana and Maha Kassapa physically ill and in pain. He had them bring to mind the Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Light streams into Buddhist cave in faraway Mandalay, Burma (huffingtonpost.com)

 
Having rejoiced at hearing the discourse reminding them of these liberating factors, they were immediately freed of their illness. By this utterance of Truth may there always be happiness to you.

Once when the King of the Dharma was himself oppressed by physical disease, he had Ven. Cunda recite the discourse respectfully, and having rejoiced at the Truth of this discourse was himself immediately cured of that physical disease. By this utterance of Truth may there always be happiness to you.
 
The diseases of the three Great Sages that were eradicated reached the stage of never occurring again like the mental defilements eradicated by the (magga-) path. By this utterance of Truth may there always be happiness for you.