Mangala

Ratana

Metta

Khandha

Mora

Vatta

Dhajagga

Atanatiya

Angulimala

Bojjhanga

Pubbanha

BOJJHANGA SUTTA

The Discourse on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment

uyyojanna

samsare samsarantanatam, sabbadukkhavinasane;

satta dhamme ca bojjhange, marasenapamaddane.

bujjhitva ye cime satta, tibhava muttakuttama;

ajatimajarabyadhim, amatam nibbhayam gata.

evamadigunupetam, anekagunasangaham;

osadhanca imam mantam, bojjhanganca bhanama he.

bojjhango sati sankhato, dhammanam vicayo tatha;

viriyam piti pasaddhi, bojjhanga ca tathapare.

samadh-upekkha bojjahanga, satte'te sabbadassina;

Munina sammadakkhata, bhavita bahulikata.

samvattanti abhinnaya, nibbanaya ca bodhiya;

etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada.

ekasmim sarnaye Natho, Moggallananca Kassapam;

gilane dukkhite disva, bojjhange satta desayi.

te ca taib abbinanditva, roga muccimsu tankhane;

etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada

ekada Dhammarajapi, gelannena'bhipilito,

Cundattherena tamyeva, bhanapetvana sadaram;

sammoditvana abadha, tamha vutthasi thanaso, etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada.

pahina te ca abadha, tinnannampi mahesinam; maggahata kilesava, patta'nuppattidhammatam; etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada.

Bojjhanga Suttam Nitthitam.

To Listen in Myanmar Pali

BOJJHANGA SUTTA

The Discourse on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment

      This sutta is the consolidated discourse on three similar events experienced by Venerable Maha Kassapa, Venerable Moggallana and Lord Buddha himself. These three were afflicted with disease, and were seriously ill. And by the magical power of recitation of the Bojjhanga Sutta, each of them recovered from affliction and illness.

      On one occasion, the Lord Buddha was staying at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove, the feeding-ground of black squirrels. At that time Venerable Maha Kassapa was dwelling in the Pipphali Cave, afflicted with a disease, and was seriously ill. The Lord visited him and expounded the doctrine of Seven Factors of Enlightenment. At the end of the preaching the Elder Kassapa recovered from affliction, and illness disappeared. This is the first instance.

      On another occasion, the Lord was staying in the same place at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove where the black squirrels were fed. Thereupon Venerable Maha Moggallana residing on the Gujjhakuta Hill, the Vultures' Peak, was afflicted with a disease and was gravely sick. So the Lord visited him and preached the same doctrine of Seven Factors of Enlightenment to him. The Elder listened with due respect to him and recovered from that affliction. This is the second instance.

      On the third occasion, while Lord Buddha was residing at the same town in the same Bamboo grove, he himself was afflicted with a disease and suffered seriously. Then the Elder Maha Cunda approached the Lord, saluted him and attended him. The Lord requested the Elder Cunda to recite the Seven Factors of Enlightenment as usually expounded by the Lord Buddha. And the Elder Cunda obeyed and recited.

      "These seven factors of Enlightenment are lucidly expounded, are cultivated and are fully developed by the Blessed One. They are Mindfulness, Investigation of the Dhamma, Persevering effort, Rapture, Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity. These seven factors of Enlightenment conduce to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana."

      At the end, Lord Buddha approved the recitation. Then the Lord recovered from his affliction, and thus his illness disappeared.

      These three cases are put forth to indicate and to recommend the magical healing power of the recitation of the Parittas and the Oath of Truth. Hence the Burmese medicine-men practised and used to recite this Bojjhanga Sutta to help the patients recover quickly from their illness, and to initiate successful medical treatments.

      As a matter of fact the original suttas are found expounded in prose form by the Lord Buddha, in Mahavagga Samyutta Pali. How ever the ancient Burmese monks who were expert in Pili language composed the consolidated discourse into verse form to be known as the Bojjhanga paritta sutta of eleven stanzas.

10. BOJJHANGA SUTTA

The Discourse on Seven Factors of Enlightenment

   135. These seven dhammas are the factors of enlightenment, which eradicate all the suffering of the creatures who are transmigrating in the universal flux, and which suppress the army of Death.

   136. Having realised these seven dhammas the creatures had attained the Immortality, the Fearlessness, Birthless, decay-less and sickless stage; they be came transcendental and liberated from three existences.

   Oh thou! Let us recite this doctrine of Factors of Enlightenment;

   137. Endowed with such and other qualifications altogether with innumerable qualities, this is a medicinal spell.

   138. The factors of enlightenment are Mindfulness, Investigation of the Dhamma and also Effort, Rapture, Tranquility, and other factors of enlightenment.

   139. The factor of concentration, and Equanimity. All these seven are well expounded by the Allseer; cultivated and amplified repeatedly by the Sage—

   140. in order to discern profoundly, to realise the wisdom, and to attain Nibbana;

   By this asseveration of this truth, may you be happy forever.

   141. At one time, the Lord saw Venerable Moggallana and Venerable Kassapa suffering and sick, and he expounded the Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

   142. The two Elders also were delighted thereat; and at that very moment were liberated from the sickness.

   By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever.

   143. Once even the King of Dhamma the Buddha himself was, afflicted by sickness, then the Elder Cunda was requested to recite that very doctrine with due reference.

   144. Having delighted the Lord rose up thereupon from that sickness.

   By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever.

   145. Just as the defilements, annihilated by Magga-conscious, can arise again no more, in like manner these ailments were eradicated from the three Great Sages.

   By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever.

First posted on 31-10-02