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Reference: The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are part of the mental objects that one needs to be mindful of. These are:

1. Mindfulness
2. Investigation
3. Energy
4. Joy
5. Tranquility
6. Concentration
7. Equanimity

Here are some excerpts from Satipatthana Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness.

“And further, monks, a monk lives contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment.

“How, monks, does a monk live contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment?

“Herein, monks, when the enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is present, the monk knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is in me,’ or when the enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of mindfulness comes to be; and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of mindfulness comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects is present, the monk knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of the investigation of mental objects comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of energy is present, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of energy is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of energy is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of energy is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of energy comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of energy comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of joy is present, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of joy is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of joy is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of joy is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of joy comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of joy comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of tranquility is present, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of tranquility is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of tranquility is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of tranquility is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of tranquility comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of tranquility comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of concentration is present, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of concentration is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of concentration is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of concentration is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of concentration comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of concentration comes to be.

“When the enlightenment-factor of equanimity is present, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of equanimity is in me’; when the enlightenment-factor of equanimity is absent, he knows, ‘The enlightenment-factor of equanimity is not in me’; and he knows how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of equanimity comes to be, and how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of equanimity comes to be.

“Thus he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects internally, or he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects externally, or he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-factors in mental objects, or he lives contemplating dissolution-factors in mental objects, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-factors in mental objects. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘Mental objects exist,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness, and he lives detached, and clings to nothing in the world. Thus, monks, a monk lives contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment.”

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EXERCISE

PURPOSE:   To practice mindfulness in the factors of enlightenment.

1.    Look and contemplate on MINDFULNESS.

• When the enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of mindfulness is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of mindfulness comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of mindfulness comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

2.    Look and contemplate on INVESTIGATION.

• When the enlightenment-factor of investigation is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of investigation is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of investigation is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of investigation is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of investigation comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of investigation comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

3.    Look and contemplate on ENERGY.

• When the enlightenment-factor of energy is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of energy is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of energy is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of energy is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of energy comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of energy comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

4.    Look and contemplate on JOY.

• When the enlightenment-factor of joy is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of joy is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of joy is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of joy is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of joy comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of joy comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

5.    Look and contemplate on TRANQUILITY.

• When the enlightenment-factor of tranquility is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of tranquility is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of tranquility is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of tranquility is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of tranquility comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of tranquility comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

6.    Look and contemplate on CONCENTRATION.

• When the enlightenment-factor of concentration is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of concentration is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of concentration is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of concentration is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of concentration comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of concentration comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step.

7.    Look and contemplate on EQUANIMITY.

• When the enlightenment-factor of equanimity is present, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of equanimity is in me’.
• When the enlightenment-factor of equanimity is absent, know, ‘The enlightenment-factor of equanimity is not in me’.
• Know how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment-factor of equanimity comes to be.
• Know how perfection in the development of the arisen enlightenment-factor of equanimity comes to be.
• Do steps 8 – 11 before going to the next step. 

8.    Continue contemplating this factor of enlightenment internally and/or as observed externally.

9.    Be mindful of the origination factors in this factor of enlightenment, and/or the dissolution factors in this factor of enlightenment.

10.    Be mindful that this factor of enlightenment exists to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness.

11.    Live detached, and cling to nothing in the world.

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Further references: KHTK Mindfulness

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