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The Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - List

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The thirty seven factors of enlightenment are a set of pointers for those who wish to follow the bodhisattva path.

The Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - ListThe Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - ListThe Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - ListThe Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - List
The Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment - List

The thirty seven factors of enlightenment are based from what is taught in the sutras, tantras and treatises, following the instructions of the great Buddhist masters of the past, they stem from Mahayana Buddhism, and are at set of principles in use since the 9th century.
A bodhisattva is someone following the path to enlightenment who therefore wishes to free all beings from suffering and bring them to enlightenment or indeed someone that has already directly realized of the truth of emptiness.
The practice of all the bodhisattvas following the path is to dedicate towards enlightenment all the virtue to be gained on the path through making effort in these ways below, with wisdom that is purified entirely of the three conceptual spheres, so as to dispel the sufferings of the infinity of beings.
Mahayana Buddhism teaches that anyone can aspire to achieve awakening and thereby become a bodhisattva. For Mahayana Buddhism, awakening consists in understanding the true nature of reality.
The ideas here are around dependent rising, i.e. that nothing has an essence and that the existence of each thing is dependent on the existence of other things, this is referred to as emptiness (Shunyata).
Bodhisattvas seek to understand this reality through wisdom (Prajna) and to actualize it through compassion (Karuna).

The Thirty Seven Factors of Enlightenment

01. The foundation of mindfulness of the body. (The four foundations).

02. The foundation of mindfulness of feelings. (The four foundations).

03. The foundation of mindfulness of the mind. (The four foundations).

04. The foundation of mindfulness of phenomena. (mental qualities). (The four foundations).

05. Abandoning or ceasing negative acts. (The four correct endeavours).

06. Preventing future negative acts. (The four correct endeavours).

07. Enhancing existing positive qualities and past wholesome acts. (The four correct endeavours).

08. Laying the foundation for future wholesome acts. (The four correct endeavours).

09. The supernatural feat of aspiration. (The four supernatural feats)

Aspiration is the beginning of every practitioner’s journey. In the teaching of the Buddha aspiration is called Bodhicitta the mind of awakening or the mind of love. It is the deep seeded desire to transform the unwholesome habits of the dualistic way we perceive ourselves, others, and the world in order to live for the benefit of all beings.

10. The supernatural feat of joyous effort or energy. (The four supernatural feats)

11. The supernatural feat of concentration. (The four supernatural feats)

12. The supernatural feat of inquiry. (The four supernatural feats)

13. The faculty of faith or devotion. (The five faculties/mental faculties)

14. The faculty of joyous effort. (The five faculties/mental faculties)

15. The faculty of mindfulness. (The five faculties/mental faculties)

16. The faculty of meditative absorption or concentration. (The five faculties/mental faculties)

17. The faculty of wisdom or insight/discernment. (The five faculties/mental faculties)

18. The power of faith or devotion. (The five powers/strengths). Saddha bala.

The power of the faith/devotion to overcome doubt.

19. The power of joyous effort or energy. (The five powers/strengths). Viriya bala.

The power of joyous effort or energy to overcome laziness.

20. The power of mindfulness. (The five powers/strengths). Sati bala.

The power of the mindfulness to overcome heedlessness.

21. The power of meditative absorption or concentration. (The five powers). Samadhi bala.

The power of meditative absorption or concentration to overcome distraction.

22. The power of wisdom or insight/discernment. (The five powers). Pana bala.

The power of wisdom or insight to overcome ignorance.

23. Correct view. (The eightfold path).

24. Correct thinking. (The eightfold path).

25. Correct speech. (The eightfold path).

26. Correct action. (The eightfold path).

27. Correct livelihood. (The eightfold path).

28. Correct effort. (The eightfold path).

29. Correct mindfulness. (The eightfold path).

30. Correct concentration. (The eightfold path).

31. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right mindfulness (smriti). (the seven limbs).

32. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right aspiration or discriminative knowledge or the investigation into the nature of phenomena. (the seven limbs).

33. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right joyous effort or persistence. (the seven limbs).

34. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right joyfulness, rapture, bliss, delight. (the seven limbs).

35. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right tranquillity, subtleness, suppleness, or serenity. (the seven limbs).

36. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right concentration. (the seven limbs).

37. The factor of enlightenment consisting of right equanimity, calm and composure. (The seven limbs).

Synonyms/tags: Buddhist enlightenment factors




Or, per your interest, look at other related links;

  The three conceptual spheres.
  The four foundations of mindfulness.
  The four correct endeavours.

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