The Seven Factors of Awakening
… from the Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing, Section IV: “… if they are developed and continuously practiced, the Four Establishments of Mindfulness will lead to perfect abiding in the Seven Factors of Awakening. How is this so?
When the practitioner abides in the practice of observing the body in the body, the feelings in the feelings, the mind in the mind, and the objects of mind in the objects of mind, diligent, fully awake, clearly understanding hertheir state, gone beyond all attachment and aversion to this life, at that point mindfulness is maintained in herthem in a sustained and steadfast way and shethey will attain the First Factor of Awakening, namely mindfulness. She cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When the practitioner abides in mindfulness and hethey can investigate and examine every object of mind that arises, then the Second Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in himthem, the factor of investigating dharmas. He cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When the practitioner abides in the observation and examination of every dharma in a sustained, diligent, and steadfast way, the Third Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in herthem, the factor of energy. She cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When the practitioner abides in the practice of diligence in a sustained and steadfast way, the Fourth Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in himthem, the factor of joy. He cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When the practitioner can abide in the state of joy, shethey will feel hertheir body and mind light and at peace. At this point the Fifth Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in herthem, the factor of ease. She cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When both body and mind are at ease, the practitioner can easily enter into concentration. At this point the Sixth Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in himthem, the factor of concentration. He cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
When the practitioner is truly abiding in concentration shethey will cease discriminating and comparing. At this point the Seventh Factor of Awakening will be born and developed in herthem, the factor of equanimity. She cultivatesThey cultivate it and in time it comes to fulfillment.
βThis is how the Four Establishments of Mindfulness, if developed and practiced continuously, will lead to perfect abiding in the Seven Factors of Awakening.β
