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In Buddhism,
bodhipakkhiyā dhammā (Pali, variant spellings include
bodhipakkhikā dhammā and
bodhapakkhiyā dhammā;[1] Skt.:
bodhipakṣa dharma) are qualities
(dhammā) conducive or related to
(pakkhiya) Enlightenment or Awakening (bodhi).
In the Pali commentaries, the term bodhipakkhiyā
dhammā is applied to seven sets of such qualities regularly
mentioned by the Buddha throughout the Pali Canon. Within these
seven sets of Enlightenment qualities, there is a total of
thirty-seven individual qualities (sattatiṃsa bodhipakkhiyā dhammā).[2]
These seven sets of qualities are recognized by both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists as
complementary facets of the Buddhist Path to
Enlightenment.[3]
Seven sets of
thirty-seven qualities
In the Pali Canon's Bhāvanānuyutta sutta
("Mental Development Discourse,"[4] AN 7.67), the
Buddha is recorded as saying:
- 'Monks, although a monk who does not apply himself to the
meditative development of his mind may wish, "Oh, that my mind
might be free from the taints by non-clinging!", yet his mind
will not be freed. For what reason? "Because he has not developed
his mind," one has to say. Not developed it in what? In the four
foundations of mindfulness, the four right kinds of striving, the
four bases of success, the five spiritual faculties, the five
spiritual powers, the seven factors of enlightenment and the Noble
Eightfold Path.'[5]
Elsewhere in the Canon,[6] these
seven sets of thirty-seven qualities conducive to Enlightenment are
enumerated as:
Four frames of
reference (satipatthana)
- Contemplation of the body (kayanupassana)
- Contemplation of feelings (vedananupassana)
- Contemplation of consciousness (cittanupassana)
- Contemplation of mental qualities
(dhammanupassana)
- Exertion for the non-arising of unskillful states
- Exertion for the abandoning of unskillful states
- Exertion for the arising of skillful states
- Exertion for the sustaining of skillful states
Four bases of power
(iddhipada)
- Will (chanda)
- Energy (viriya)
- Consciousness (citta)
- Discrimination (vimamsa or vīmaŋsā)
Five faculties (indriya)
- Faith (saddha)
- Energy (viriya)
- Mindfulness (sati)
- Concentration (samadhi)
- Wisdom (panna)
Five
powers (bala)
- Faith (saddha)
- Energy (viriya)
- Mindfulness (sati)
- Concentration (samadhi)
- Wisdom (panna)
Seven factors
of Enlightenment (bojjhanga)
- Mindfulness (sati)
- Investigation (dhamma vicaya)
- Energy (viriya)
- Joy (piti)
- Tranquility (passaddhi)
- Concentration (samadhi)
- Equanimity (upekkha)
- Right View (samma ditthi)
- Right Intention (samma sankappa)
- Right Speech (samma vacca)
- Right Action (samma kammanta)
- Right Livelihood (samma ajiva)
- Right Energy (samma vayama)
- Right Mindfulness (samma sati)
- Right Concentration (samma samadhi)
Forty-three qualities
In the Pali Canon's Netti discourses 112 and 237, forty-three
bodhipakkhiya dhammas are enumerated which include the
aforementoned thirty-seven plus:
- impermanence (aniccasaññā)
- suffering (dukkha)
- non-self (anatta)
- abandoning [dukkha] (pahāna)
- absence of desire, arahantship (virāga)
- destruction [of mental taints], nibbana (nirodhasaññā)[7]
In the
Pali literature
The technical term, bodhipakkhiyā dhammā, explicitly
referring to the seven sets of qualities identified above, is first
encountered in the Pali commentaries;[2]
nonetheless, the seven sets of bodhipakkhiya dhammas are
themselves first collated, enumerated and referenced in the Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma
Pitaka.[8]
Sutta
Pitaka
In the Digha Nikaya's famed Maha-parinibbana Sutta (DN 10), which
recounts the Buddha's last days, in the Buddha's last address to
his assembly of followers he states:
- "Now, O bhikkhus, I say
to you that these teachings of which I have direct knowledge and
which I have made known to you — these you should thoroughly learn,
cultivate, develop, and frequently practice, that the life of
purity may be established and may long endure, for the welfare and
happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for
the benefit, well being, and happiness of gods and men.
- "And what, bhikkhus, are these teachings? They are the four
foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four
constituents of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers,
the seven factors of enlightenment, and the Noble Eightfold Path.
These, bhikkhus, are the teachings of which I have direct
knowledge, which I have made known to you, and which you should
thoroughly learn, cultivate, develop, and frequently
practice...."[9]
In the Majjhima Nikaya's "Greater
Discourse to Sakuludāyin" (MN 77),[10] when
asked why his disciples venerated him, the Buddha
identified five qualities he possessed: highest virtues (adhisīle ... paramena
sīlakkhandha); highest knowledge and vision (abhikkante ñāṇadassane); highest
wisdom (adhipaññāya ... paramena
paññākkhandha); his explanation of the Four Noble
Truths (ariyasaccāni); and, his identification of
numerous ways to develop wholesome states. The Buddha's elaboration
of the last item included the seven sets of thirty-seven
bodhipakkhiya dhammas which are enumerated individually in
this discourse.[11]
In the Samyutta Nikaya, the fifth
division's first seven chapters are each devoted to one of the
bodhipakkhiya dhammas. While there is a great deal of
repetition among these chapters' discourses, these seven chapters
include almost 900 discourses.[12]
In the Anguttara Nikaya's "Upajjhāyasuttaṃ" (AN 5.6.6),
the Buddha recommends five things for a monk to overcome spiritual hindrances: control mental faculties; eat
the right amount of food; maintain wakefulness; be aware of merit; and,
develop the bodhipakkhiya dhammas throughout the day.[13]
In the Khuddaka Nikaya, the
bodhipakkhiya dhammas are mentioned at Iti. 82,[14] Th. 900,[15] and
Nett. 31, 112, 197, 237, 240 and
261.[16]
Abhidhamma
Pitaka
The bodhipakkhiya dhammas are mentioned in several
passages of the Abhidhamma, such as at Vbh. sections 571 and 584 .[17]
In the Visuddhimagga, Buddhaghosa enumerates the seven sets of
bodhipakkhiya dhammas along with a relevant Suttapitaka discourse (Vism. XXII.33),
describes each set (Vism. XXII.34-38), and describes their
existence in the consciousness of an arahant (Vism. XXII.39-40).
In addition, Buddhaghosa factors the 37 qualities in a manner so as
to describe fourteen non-redundant qualities (Vism. XXII.40-43);
thus, for instance, while nine qualities (zeal, consciousness, joy,
tranquility, equanimity, intention, speech, action, livelihood) are
mentioned only once in the full list of 37 qualities, the other
five qualities are mentioned multiple times. Table 1 below
identifies the five qualities spanning multiple
bodhipakkhiya-dhamma sets.[18]
In terms of other Pali
commentaries, the bodhipakkhiya dhammas are also
mentioned in Dhammapada-atthakatha (DhA i.230), Suttanipata-atthakatha (SnA 164), and Jataka-atthakatha (J i.275, iii.290, and
v.483).[19]
See also
Notes
- ^
For the various Pali spellings, see Rhys Davids & Stede
(1921-25), p. 491, under the entries for "bodha" and "bodhi." In
this article, the variants are listed from most frequently used to
least, deduced from Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25) and other
sources.
- ^ a
b
Regarding the use of the compound Pali term bodhipakkhiyā
dhammā in the canonical discourses, based on a search of the
Sinhala SLTP tipitaka using the La Trobe University search engine
at http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/pali.htm,
the term bodhipakkhiyā dhammā (and its variant spellings
and declensions) was found in following nine discourses in the Sutta Pitaka:
- DN 27
(Aggañña Sutta)
- SN 48.51
(Sālā Sutta)
- SN 48.55 (Sāra Sutta)
- SN 48.67 (Rukkha Sutta)
- AN
5.56 (Upajjhāya Sutta)
- AN 6.17 (Kusala Sutta or Soppa Sutta)
- AN 9.1 (Sambodhipakkhiya Sutta)
- Iti. 82
(Devasadda Sutta)
- Iti. 97 (Kalyāṇasīla Sutta)
The Digha Nikaya
(DN 27) and Itivuttaka
(Iti., 82, 97) discourses each refer to "seven" (satta)
factors of enlightenment. In his translation of DN 27, Walshe
(1995, pp. 415 para. 30, 605 n. 854) interprets the
"seven" to refer to the seven enlightenment factors (satta
bojjhaṅgā) described in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta (DN 22). Conversely,
in their translations of the Itivuttaka discourses, Ireland (1997) and
Thanissaro (2001) interpret the "seven" as referring to the "seven
groups of" or "seven [sets of]" factors of enlightenment,
respectively. None of these three discourses themselves explicitly
identifies which seven factors or sets of factors are being
referenced. Moreover, the Anguttara Nikaya (AN 5.56, 6.17, 9.1)
discourses neither numerically quantify nor elaborate upon the
terms bodhipakkhiyānaṃ dhammānaṃ, bodhapakkhiyānaṃ dhammānaṃ or sambodhipakkhiyānaṃ ...
dhammānaṃ (respectively). Uniquely, in the three discourses
from the Samyutta Nikaya (48.51, 48.55, 48.57),
all three explicitly associate the term bodhipakkhiyā
dhammā (and variant spellings) solely with the five faculties
(indriya) of faith,
energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom (Bodhi, 2000, p.
1695).
Perhaps summing up the vagueness and apparent inconsistencies in
these identified discourses and their translations, in an end note
to the Sālā Sutta (SN 48.51) Bodhi (2000, p. 1937
n. 235) comments: "In the commentaries bodhipakkhiyā
dhammā is the umbrella term for the seven sets of training
factors repeatedly taught by the Buddha, but in the suttas the
expression has a more flexible, less technical meaning." Bodhi then
refers to Gethin (1992), pp. 289-98, for further discussion.
- ^
In 1967, the World Buddhist Sangha
Council's "Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the
Mahayana" included the statement:
- We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to Enlightenment
(bodhipakṣa-dharma) as different aspects
of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment. (Rahula,
1974, pp. 100, 137-138.)
- ^
The Pali word translated here as "development" is bhāvanā.
Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), p. 305 n. 20 note: "The
term 'bhāvanā' (lit.:making become), usually translated as
'meditation,' is not restricted to methodical exercises in mental
concentration but comprises the entire field of mental training."
For elaboration on this point, compare the Wikipedia articles Buddhist
meditation (regarding "mediation" and "mental concentraton")
and Threefold training (regarding "mental
training").
- ^
Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), pp. 192-3. Regarding the ordering
of the seven sets, Bodhi (2000), pp. 1486-87, notes:
- "The presentation of the seven sets in a graded sequence might
convey the impression that they constitute seven successive stages
of practice. This, however, would be a misinterpretation. Close
consideration of the series would show that the seven sets are
ranked in a numerically ascending order, from four to eight, which
means that their arrangement is purely pedagogic and implies
nothing about a later set being more advanced than the earlier
sets.... By presenting the course of practice from different
angles, in different keys, and with different degrees of detail,
the texts are able to finely modulate the practice of the path to
suit the diverse needs of the people to be trained...."
- ^
For instance, these thirty-seven qualities are enumerated in SN 43.12 "The
Unconditioned" (Bodhi, 2000, pp. 1374-78), where each quality is
deemed "the path leading to the unconditioned" (asaṅkhatagāmī maggo), which is in
turn defined as the destruction of lust, hatred and delusion
(rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo
mohakkhayo).
- ^
Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entry on "bodhi,"
available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3377.pali
(retrieved 2007-05-23).
- ^
For a survey of references to these qualities, see, for instance,
Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entries on "bodha,"
available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3372.pali
(retrieved 2007-05-23), and on "bodhi," available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3377.pali
(retrieved 2007-05-23). Bodhi (2000), pp. 1485-86, notes:
- "In the Buddhist exegetical tradition, beginning very soon
after the age of the canon, these seven sets are known as the
thirty-seven aids to enlightenment (sattatiṃsa bodhipakkhiyā dhammā).
Although this term is not used in the Nikāyas themselves as a
collective appellation for the seven sets, the sets themselves
frequently appear in the Nikāyas as a compendium of the practice
leading to enlightenment."
- ^
Vajra & Story (1998).
- ^
Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), "The Greater
Discourse to Sakuludāyin" (Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta, MN 77), pp.
629-647, 1284 n. 762; Upalavanna (n.d.-a); and, SLTP,
n.d.-b
- ^
In MN 77, in addition to the seven sets of 37 qualities conducive
to Enlightenment, the Buddha further identified his teaching of
various meditative accomplishments (such as the jhanas) and his achieving higher knowledge (such as
recollecting past lives) as contributing to his disciples'
veneration. Note that the phrase, "ways to develop wholesome
states," is not actually in the original Pali sutta itself but is a
square-bracketed sectional title inserted by Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001) to demarcate
the fifth quality set that the Buddha self identifies as the basis
for his disciples' veneration.
- ^
Bodhi (2000), chs. 45-51, pp. 1523-1749. The number of discourses
identified here is based on Bodhi (2000) – which includes 894
separate discourses – but the actual number of discourses varies
depending on which edition of the Samyutta Nikaya one is
referencing.
- ^
Upalavanna (n.d.-b), AN 5.6.6.
- ^
Thanissaro (2001), Iti. 82 is at available at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.3.050-099.than.html#iti-082
(retrieved 2007-05-22).
- ^
SLTP (n.d.-c), stanza 900 in Pali: "Tassa dhamma ime honti kusalā bodhipakkhikā,
Anāsavo ca so hoti iti vuttaṃ mahesinā." This is part of the
stanzas ascribed to Anuruddha. Norman (1997), p. 90, translates
the Pali as: "His characteristics are good, conducive to
enlightenment, and he is without āsavas [mental intoxicants]; so it
is said by the great seer."
- ^
Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), op. cit.
- ^
SLTP (n.d.-a), §§ 571, 584 (PTS pages 244, 249). Rhys Davids &
Stede (1921-25), p. 491, entry for "bodhi," states that the
bodhipakkhiya dhammas are "mentioned at many other
passages of the Abhidhamma."
- ^
Buddhaghosa & Ñāṇamoli (1999), pp. 702-705. Note that,
whereas the Visuddhimagga orders the five redundant qualities
listed in the table in order of ascending frequency among the seven
sets (that is, from faith which appears twice among the seven sets
to energy which appears nine times), the table below orders them in
a manner consistent with the Five Faculties and Five Powers (from faith
to understanding) to facilitate reader comprehension as there is
potentially a developmental facet to this classical ordering.
- ^
Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), op. cit.
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External
links