Post # 41 – Thirty Seven Factors Supporting Awakening – Part 1

The factors towards attainment of Nibbana (sath tiss bodhi pakkhiya Dhamma)

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We have hitherto been discussing effective Dhamma practice by busy householders. Apart from the reference to Punya Kamma (meritorious acts) and Kusala Kamma (ethically skillful acts) which were virtues that we develop to ensure a well endowed birth in a happier realm after death, we focused on the path to liberation as that was the essence of what Buddha taught. That is attaining the world transcending wisdom to realize Nibbana.

The Buddha has referred to 37 factors that assist in realizing this world transcending wisdom and has said: “Then you should train yourself –harmoniously, cordially, and without dispute-in the qualities I have pointed out, having known them directly: the four frames of reference (sathara satthi-pattana); four right exertions (samma-padana); the four bases of power (iddhi-pada); the five faculties (pancha indriya); the five strengths (pancha bala); the seven factors of awakening (sattha bojjhanga); the noble eightfold path (ariya-ashtanga-magga) and this forms the heart of my message” – the bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma. In the Pali language these factors are termed as sath tiss bodhipakkhiya-dhamma.

I therefore feel that we should attempt to get a good understanding of these 37 factors grouped into 7 sets, considered so important by the Buddha in his above statement for us to achieve our goal.

Many Buddhist monks and scholars have given descriptions of the 37 factors to be developed towards Nibbana based on the thripitaka (pali canon). I have extracted to place before you some of these descriptions in the hope that they will give you some insight into this important teaching by the Buddha. What I realize is that developing these factors does not need a separate and dedicated effort but most of them develop while we engage in the other Buddhist practices that we discussed before.  I will try to flag these practices as we discuss the respective factors.

Ven. Renukane Chandawimala Thero describes the 37 factors to be developed for attaining Nibbana (sath tiss bodhipakkhiya-dhamma) as follows:  “If someone in the past attained Nibbana it is by developing these 37 factors. Even in the future if one were to attain Nibbana it is also in this way. The world transcending path knowledge or Bodhi, develops when Seela (moral restraint), Samadhi (concentrated mind) and Panna (wisdom) develop while cultivating these 37 factors. Nibbana is realized by acquiring the path wisdom of Sotha Patthi (Stream Enterer), Sakrudhagami (Once Returner), Anagami (Non Returner) and Arahant (Enlightened One). That is by observing and developing the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path.

He then goes on to elaborate the 37 factors, which I will discuss later along with the observations given by other scholars on them and their respective roles in the above attainments.

Ven. Pitigala Gunerathane in a talk on Sabbasawa Sutta - says that when one talks of Buddhist Meditation for realizing Nibbana you talk about insight meditation for the development of the Bojjanga Dhamma. That is one part of the 37 factors to be developed for attaining Nibbana.  The Bojjanga Dhamma or the Seven Factors for Awakening (satta bojjhanga), develops while engaging in mindfulness meditation. 

In another exposition named as - ‘Wings to Awakening’ – An anthology from the Pali Canon translated and explained by Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu,  a vivid description has been given on these  37 factors that assist in realizing the world transcending wisdom or Awakening.

Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu in this exposition describes the concept of Awakening so as to give a clear sense of where the Wings to Awakening are headed. He does this by discussing the Buddha’s accounts of his own Awakening, with special focus on the way in which the principle of skillful kamma formed both the “how” and the “what” of that Awakening. He says that, “The Buddha was able to reach Awakening only by developing skillful kamma – that is the “how”.  His understanding of the process of developing skillful kamma is what sparked the insights that constituted the seven sets (the 37 factors grouped into 7 sets) that make up the Wings to Awakening themselves”. This he says is “what”.

He goes on to say that “The reality of the Wings to Awakening lies in the qualities of the mind. The words with which they are expressed in the Pali Canon are simply pointers. These pointers have to be tested in the light of serious practice……., Buddha’s words should be read repeatedly, reflectively, and put to test in the practice.....this way they will give you useful insights for training the mind so that someday you won’t have to read about Awakening, but will be able to know it for yourself”.

With this background now in place, I will go on to extract and present, further details about the 37 factors to be developed for realizing the ultimate (world transcending) wisdom or Awakening. Please await Post # 42 for details.