In short: the seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga) are mindfulness, investigation, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion and equanimity. In SN 46.3 the Buddha shows them as a chain: mindfulness leads to investigation, investigation rouses energy, energy brings joy, joy settles into calm, calm becomes a collected mind, and a collected mind is watched over with equanimity.
The seven factors, in the Buddha's words
| Factor | How the Buddha describes it (SN 46.3) | In plain English |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mindfulness (sati) | "they recollect and think about that teaching" | Remembering to be present. The first factor, and the one that steers the rest. |
| 2. Investigation of principles (dhamma-vicaya) | "they investigate, explore, and inquire into that teaching with wisdom" | Looking closely: is this skillful or unskillful? What is actually happening? |
| 3. Energy (viriya) | "their energy is roused up and unflagging" | Steady effort, not strain. |
| 4. Rapture (pīti) | "rapture not of the flesh arises" | A bright, uplifting joy that comes from practice itself. |
| 5. Tranquility (passaddhi) | "the body and mind become tranquil" | Joy settles into calm. |
| 6. Immersion (samādhi) | "the mind becomes immersed in samādhi" | A unified, collected mind. |
| 7. Equanimity (upekkhā) | "They closely watch over that mind immersed in samādhi" | Balanced, steady watching, without grabbing or pushing. |
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How one leads to the next
"As they investigate principles with wisdom in this way their energy is roused up and unflagging… When they're energetic, rapture not of the flesh arises… When the mind is full of rapture, the body and mind become tranquil… When the body is tranquil and one feels bliss, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi."
SN 46.3
This is a description of what happens in a good meditation session: you settle in (mindfulness), get curious about what's there (investigation), become engaged (energy), feel a quiet gladness (rapture), relax (tranquility), become collected (immersion), and rest in balance (equanimity).
Balancing the factors
- Sluggish or sleepy? Rouse the energizing factors: investigation, energy, rapture. Open your eyes a little, sit up straighter, get curious.
- Restless or anxious? Lean on the calming factors: tranquility, immersion, equanimity. Lengthen the out-breath and soften the body.
- Always: mindfulness, which notices which of the two you need.
These are the same seven qualities chanted for healing in the Bojjhaṅga Paritta. They are the bright side of the five hindrances: as the hindrances fade, the awakening factors grow.
Try it
Next time you sit, notice which factor is strongest and which is missing. Start with a 3-minute session in Practice, or read the 16 steps of mindfulness of breathing, which the Buddha said develops all seven.
Questions people ask
What are the seven factors of awakening?
Mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion (samādhi) and equanimity. In SN 46.3 the Buddha shows how each one gives rise to the next.
Which awakening factors help when I'm sleepy or restless?
When the mind is sluggish, the tradition recommends rousing investigation, energy and rapture. When it is restless, develop tranquility, immersion and equanimity. Mindfulness is useful at all times.