Chapter 26 - The Seven Factors of Awakening

Question 1

enumerate:

Seven Factors of Awakening

Answer 1

1. mindfulness
2. investigation of phenomena
3. diligence
4. joy
5. ease
6. concentration
7. equanimity

Question 2

explain:

mindfulness / 1st Factor of Awakening

smrti = “remembering”

4

Answer 2

• always has an object: self, others, things
• not something we just keep in our pocket
• our breathing can be a cause and a condition of mindfulness
• no “I” to be found when mindfulness is there
  ex: when walking, we sense our feet, and not an “I” that reminds us to be present

smriti = “remembering”

Question 3

explain:

investigation of phenomena / 2nd Factor of Awakening

2

Answer 3

• being open-minded and allowing things to reveal themselves
  ex: bud-> leaf-> mulch-> earth
• together with mindfulness, it takes us deeply into life and reality

Question 4

explain:

effort / 3rd Factor of Awakening

4

Answer 4

• remembering life is a miracle beyond our comprehension
• helping others experience the wonders of life
• has three sources 1) mindfulness 2) investigation 3) faith in the practice
• counterproductive at wrong time/place
  ex: overdoing sitting meditation before developing good concentration

Question 5

explain:

ease / 4th Factor of Awakening

3

Answer 5

• learning ways to bring energy from head to abdomen
• resting (ease) needs to be practised even when not sick
• in poorer countries ease is expressed more easily

Question 6

explain:

joy / 5th Factor of Awakening

3

Answer 6

• comes from touching refreshing and beautiful things in and outside of ourselves
• can be developed in mind even when body isn’t well
• habit energy often means we look for what’s wrong; the wider picture brings joy

Question 7

explain:

concentration / 6th Factor of Awakening

5

Answer 7

• mind’s energy collected and directed toward an object
• once one-pointed and still, it quite naturally stays focussed on one object
• needed to generate mindfulness and vice versa
• to be wholesome, object must be too
• not an escape from the world and can shine light on suffering

Question 8

explain:

equanimity / 7th Factor of Awakening

3

Answer 8

• loving others equally
• “example of the saw” sutra - even if robbers cut your limbs off with a saw…
• Three teachings of Shariputra to transform destructive habit energies and to realise our noblest intention

also an Immeasurable Mind

Question 9

How are joy and happiness different?

Answer 9

Ex: thirst
* Joy = glass of water offered
* Happiness = glass of water being drunk

Question 10

What other area of practice does the Buddha recommend in conjunction with the Seven Factors of Awakening?

Answer 10

• the Four Immeasurable Minds

Question 11

What do those who arrive at letting go have?

Answer 11

• the bud of a half-smile, which proves compassion as well as understanding

Question 12

What should we practise to realise the Seven Factors of Awakening according to the Buddha?

Answer 12

• the Four Establishments of Mindfulness

Question 13

What quote from the Buddha highlights most humans’ lack of awareness of the Seven Factors of Awakening that exist in each of us?

Answer 13

“How amazing that all beings have the basic nature of awakening, yet they don’t know it. So they drift on the ocean of great suffering lifetime after lifetime”

Question 14

What was the Buddha’s teaching on anger with the example of how we should feel even when robbers cut our limbs off with a saw?

equanimity

3

Answer 14

• we must bear no hatred in our hearts
• we must utter no unkind words
• we must remain compassionate with no hostility or ill-will

we are not true followers of the Buddha’s teachings if anger arises

Question 15

Why does Shariputra recommend meditating on the Four Great Elements (earth, water, fire and air) inside and outside our bodies to practise letting go?

2

Answer 15

• so we see we and they are truly the same
• so our love contains equanimity

Question 16

In the story of Shariputra’s false accusation and the beginning anew that followed, he declares how he had always strived to practise like the Four Elements, with mindfulness and loving kindness, and offers beginning anew to his accuser, even stating he had not been skilful enough to avert this misunderstanding, and co-responsible, begging for forgiveness. Which of the Six Paramitas does the Buddha wish to illustrate by this?

Answer 16

• Kshanti Paramita

Question 17

enumerate:

Three teachings of Shariputra to transform destructive habit energies and to realise our noblest intention

equanimity

Answer 17

1. to practise equanimity in the face of harsh words
2. to learn not to feel annoyance, bitterness of dejection
3. to not feel elated when praised, because we know any praise isn’t for us as an individual, but for many beings including our parents, teachers, friends and all forms of life

From Equanimity / 7th Factor of Awakening