In short: The Bojjhaṅga Paritta is chanted for healing across the Theravāda world. Its source is this short discourse: Venerable Mahākassapa was gravely ill, the Buddha recited the seven awakening factors to him, and the text says "that's how he recovered from that illness."
The seven awakening factors
- Mindfulness
- Investigation of principles
- Energy
- Rapture
- Tranquility
- Immersion
- Equanimity
The verse chant called Bojjhaṅga Paritta in chanting books is a later composition based on this discourse; below is the discourse itself. See also the Girimānanda Sutta and paritta.
These chants are a source of comfort and steadiness. When someone is ill, they go alongside medical care, never instead of it.
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The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (SN46.14). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. | At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. |
| Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahākassapo pippaliguhāyaṁ viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. | Now at that time Venerable Mahākassapa was staying in the Pipphali cave, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill. |
| Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā mahākassapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ etadavoca: | Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat, went to Venerable Mahākassapa, sat down on the seat spread out, and said to him: |
| “Kacci te, kassapa, khamanīyaṁ kacci yāpanīyaṁ? Kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti? | “I hope you’re keeping well, Kassapa, I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.” |
| “Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ, na yāpanīyaṁ. Bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti. | “Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.” |
| “Sattime, kassapa, bojjhaṅgā mayā sammadakkhātā bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattanti. | “Kassapa, I’ve rightly explained these seven awakening factors. When developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to awakening, and to extinguishment. |
| Katame satta? | What seven? |
| Satisambojjhaṅgo kho, kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo kho, kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. | The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. |
| Ime kho, kassapa, satta bojjhaṅgā mayā sammadakkhātā bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattantī”ti. | These are the seven awakening factors that I’ve rightly explained. When developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to awakening, and to extinguishment.” |
| “Taggha, bhagavā, bojjhaṅgā; | “Indeed, Blessed One, these are awakening factors! |
| taggha, sugata, bojjhaṅgā”ti. | Indeed, Holy One, these are awakening factors!” |
| Idamavoca bhagavā. | That is what the Buddha said. |
| Attamano āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandi. | Satisfied, Venerable Mahākassapa approved what the Buddha said. |
| Vuṭṭhahi cāyasmā mahākassapo tamhā ābādhā. | And that’s how he recovered from that illness. |
| Tathāpahīno cāyasmato mahākassapassa so ābādho ahosīti. | |
| Catutthaṁ. |
The seven factors explained: the seven factors of awakening.
Three chants for the sick, in one place: Buddhist prayer for healing.
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Questions people ask
What is the Bojjhanga Paritta?
A protection chant on the seven factors of awakening, recited for the sick. It is based on SN 46.14, where the Buddha recites the factors to the ill Mahākassapa, who recovers.
What are the seven factors of awakening?
Mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion and equanimity.