A Guide To The Seven Factors Of Awakening/Enlightenment

Por Ishar Keshu

O que você irá aprender

This course invites you on a step-by-step journey through the Seven Factors of Awakening or Enlightenment—Mindfulness (sati), Investigation (dhammavicaya), Energy (viriya), Rapture/joy (pīti), Tranquility (passaddhi), Concentration (samādhi), and Equanimity (upekkhā)—core qualities that the Buddha taught as essential for awakening. These Seven Factors of Awakening are already present within us, and throughout this course, you'll learn how to develop and mature these qualities so that the freedom of awakening becomes more accessible. Whether you're new to meditation or looking to deepen your existing practice, you’ll understand how each factor arises, how they work together, and how to cultivate them both in your formal meditation and throughout your daily life. As you develop and deepen these factors of awakening, it becomes easier to remain balanced in the world and less pulled by the forces of clinging and attachment. Your experience of suffering in the world will greatly reduce and be replaced with qualities associated with your continued practice, such as tremendous peace, wisdom, happiness, and joy. Let's get started!

Ishar Keshu

Austin, TX, USA

Ishar is a registered yoga and meditation teacher and a Buddhist practitioner (in the Theravada and Zen traditions). He aims to share his passion for meditation and the wisdom from ancient contemplative traditions in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.

Lição 1

An Overview Of The Seven Factors Of Awakening

Welcome to this course! This track provides a brief introduction and overview of the Seven Factors of Awakening (or Enlightenment). You will learn about the origin of these factors, what each one represents, and how they balance and interplay with one another.

Lição 2

1st Factor Of Awakening: Mindfulness (Sati)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the first factor of awakening, Mindfulness (Sati in Pali). Mindfulness is the foundation on which the other factors gradually develop. You'll learn about how to develop mindfulness both on and off your cushion. You'll also learn how the continuity of mindfulness leads to the next factor of awakening, dhammavicaya or investigation (of states).

Lição 3

2nd Factor Of Awakening: Investigation (Dhammavicaya)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the second factor of awakening, Investigation (Dhammavicaya in Pali). With increased mindfulness, learned in the previous talk, one’s reflective and discernment capacities increase. When investigation is developed, a meditator can notice what habits, states of mind, practices, etc., are wholesome and which are not. The practice will then be to uphold the positive/wholesome states while eliminating the unwholesome, which will be covered in the next track on Energy (viriya).

Lição 4

3rd Factor Of Awakening: Viriya (Energy)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the third factor of awakening, Energy (Viriya in Pali). Developing energy grants us the power to do and persevere. Here, we are directing our attention to uphold wholesome states of mind while eliminating unwholesome states of mind (learned about in the previous talk). You’ll learn about how to cultivate energy, what is Right Effort, and how to balance your energy.

Lição 5

4th Factor Of Awakening: Rapture/Joy (Piti)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the fourth factor of awakening, Rapture or Joy (Piti in Pali). This extremely pleasant factor gives us a taste of the joy we can experience as a result of our increased effort in our practice. You'll learn about the 5 grades of rapture and how experiencing strong rapture for the first time can change your orientation toward seeking pleasure in the world.

Lição 6

5th Factor Of Awakening: Tranquility (Passadhi)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the fifth factor of awakening, Tranquility (Passadhi in Pali). This is the first of the passive factors found in the Seven Factors of Awakening. As the rapture of the previous factor cools out, the mind and body become tranquil and calm. This refined state of coolness is quite enjoyable, where the mind is free from agitation. Tranquility naturally leads to the next factor of concentration or collectedness (Samadhi).

Lição 7

6th Factor Of Awakening: Concentration (Samadhi)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the sixth factor of awakening, Concentration (Samadhi in Pali and Sanskrit). Samadhi refers to a range of meditation absorption states that are developed toward insight, knowledge, and seeing clearly. You'll learn about the Buddha's history with samadhi, the conditions that make concentration possible, and the 4 Jhanas (meditation absorption states).

Lição 8

7th Factor Of Awakening: Equanimity (Upekkha)

In this lesson, you'll learn about the seventh (and final) factor of awakening, Equanimity (Upekkha). Equanimity is often referred to as a beautiful factor of the mind. It allows one to remain poised and balanced regardless of external conditions in the world, which are subject to change. This lesson will cover the 8 worldly vicissitudes, how increased equanimity allows one to be more mindful (looping back to the first factor of awakening!), and some closing thoughts. Thank you for your practice! Be well.