4. Dhammānupassanā:
Contemplation of Phenomena

4.4 Bojjhanga Pabbaṁ: Section on the Factors of Enlightenment

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave bhikkhu / dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati,/ sattasu bojjhaṅgesu./ Kathañca bhikkhave bhikkhu / dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati,/ sattasu bojjhaṅgesu?/

“Again monks, a monk dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena • in terms of the seven enlightenment factors. And how monks, does a monk dwell contemplating phenomena in phenomena • in terms of the seven enlightenment factors?

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu / santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ sati sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ sati sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ sati sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ “natthi me ajjhattaṁ sati sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa sati sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti / tañca pajānāti,/ yathā ca uppannassa sati sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūri hoti, tañca pajānāti./

“Here monks, there being the mindfulness enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the mindfulness enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no mindfulness enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no mindfulness enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen mindfulness enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen mindfulness enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ natthi me ajjhattaṁ dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen investigation of phenomena enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ viriya sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ viriya sambojjhaṅgo’eti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ viriya sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ natthi me ajjhattaṁ viriya sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa viriya sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa viriya sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the energy enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the energy enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no energy enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no energy enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen energy enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen energy enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattā pīti sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ pīti sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ pīti sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ pīti sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa pīti sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa pīti sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the rapture enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the rapture enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no rapture enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no rapture enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen rapture enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen rapture enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ passaddhi sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ passaddhi sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ passaddhi sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ passaddhi sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa passaddhi sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa passaddhi sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the tranquility enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the tranquility enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no tranquility enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no tranquility enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen tranquility enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen tranquility enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ samādhi sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ samādhi sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ samādhi sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ samādhi sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa samādhi sambojjhagassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa samādhi sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the concentration enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the concentration enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no concentration enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no concentration enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen concentration enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen concentration enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ upekkhā sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ upekkhā sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ upekkhā sambojjhaṅgaṁ,/ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ upekkhā sambojjhaṅgo’ti pajānāti./ Yathā ca anuppannassa upekkhā sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./ Yathā ca uppannassa upekkhā sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī hoti,/ tañca pajānāti./

“There being the equanimity enlightenment factor in him, • a monk understands: • ‘There is the equanimity enlightenment factor in me.’ There being no equanimity enlightenment factor in him, • he understands: • ‘There is no equanimity enlightenment factor in me.’ He also understands how there comes to be • the arising of the unarisen equanimity enlightenment factor, • and how the arisen equanimity enlightenment factor • comes to fulfillment by development.

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati,/ bahiddhā vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena within himself, • he dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena within another, • and he dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena • both within himself and within another.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati,/ vaya dhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati,/ samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the phenomena, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the phenomena, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the phenomena.

Atthi dhammāti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti,/ yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya patissati mattāya./ Anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

“Mindfulness, that there are phenomena is simply established in him • to the extent necessary for higher knowledge and mindfulness. He dwells independent, and not clinging to anything in the world.

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / dhammesu dhammānupassi viharati,/ sattasu bojjhaṅgesu./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the phenomena in phenomena • in terms of the seven factors of enlightenment.

The complete translation of the Maha Satipatthana Sutta can be found in in this book. The special feature of this book is that the many beautiful repetitions that help us understand each section have been carefully included so it is the perfect text for chanting. As well, the Pali and English has been marked with pauses so groups can easily chant in harmony.