Developing the 7 factors of enlightenment

[Ananda26]

I would like to explore approaches to developing the 7 factors of enlightenment.

I think the first 3 factors are self-evident, but how are the other 4 factors to be developed? Is it by developing jhana, or are there other methods?

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .piya.html

Connected Discourses of the Buddha Chapter 46 Connected Chapter of the factors of Enlightenment is very helpful for the developing the 7 factors of Enlightenment.

When the mind is restless that is the right time to develope the tranquility, concentration, and equanimity factors of enlightenment.

When the mind is slack that is right time to develope the investigation, energy, and rapture factors of enlightenment.

As to mindfulness, Buddha has said that that is always useful.

[Spiny Norman]

Connected Discourses of the Buddha Chapter 46 Connected Chapter of the factors of Enlightenment is very helpful for the developing the 7 factors of Enlightenment.
When the mind is restless that is the right time to develope the tranquility, concentration, and equanimity factors of enlightenment.
When the mind is slack that is right time to develope the investigation, energy, and rapture factors of enlightenment.
As to mindfulness, Buddha has said that that is always useful.

Yes, thanks, Dave was talking about this earlier in the thread.

[Spiny Norman]

"Now, on any occasion when the mind is sluggish, that is the right time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for awakening, persistence as a factor for awakening, rapture as a factor for awakening. Why is that? The sluggish mind is easy to raise up by those mental qualities.

..."Now, on occasions when the mind is restless, that is the right time to develop calm as a factor for awakening, concentration as a factor for awakening, equanimity as a factor for awakening. Why is that? The restless mind is easy to still with those mental qualities.

Dave, do you see this as applying both on and off the cushion, or primarily as applying to seated meditation?

[daverupa]

"Now, on any occasion when the mind is sluggish, that is the right time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for awakening, persistence as a factor for awakening, rapture as a factor for awakening. Why is that? The sluggish mind is easy to raise up by those mental qualities.

..."Now, on occasions when the mind is restless, that is the right time to develop calm as a factor for awakening, concentration as a factor for awakening, equanimity as a factor for awakening. Why is that? The restless mind is easy to still with those mental qualities.

Dave, do you see this as applying both on and off the cushion, or primarily as applying to seated meditation?

Both. Mindfulness, as an awakening factor, is the baseline that is satipatthana. From this base, the other awakening factors are cultivated & hindrances allayed; anapanasati deeply develops this theme.

[Spiny Norman]

Both. Mindfulness, as an awakening factor, is the baseline that is satipatthana. From this base, the other awakening factors are cultivated & hindrances allayed; anapanasati deeply develops this theme.

Yes, that makes sense, particularly thinking of the reference to the 7 factors in the Satipatthana Sutta.
So do you see the 4 tetrads as a specific method for developing the 7 factors?

[daverupa]

So do you see the 4 tetrads as a specific method for developing the 7 factors?

More like arenas for the development of the factors.

At base, satipatthana is one's ancestral domain/the first awakening factor is always useful/etc. So this frames the practice, but isn't necessarily something I'd call a 'method' yet.

It's as though the awakening factors were gym equipment; you can go to any one of four gyms to correctly exercise, but the method on the various machines will differ in various ways according to the individual as well as the gym.

Nevertheless, chalking one's hands (sati) & going to the gym (-patthana) ought to happen first.