bojjhaṅga
Seven factors of enlightenment
[ boh-JHUNG-ga ]
Seeing it in life
The bojjhaṅgas mature on the path to awakening and balance one another — three energizing, three calming, with sati holding them in equilibrium.
In short
Sati, dhamma-vicaya, viriya, pīti, passaddhi, samādhi, upekkhā.
The analysis
The seven factors — sati, dhamma-vicaya (investigation of phenomena), viriya, pīti, passaddhi (tranquility), samādhi, upekkhā — mature together on the path to awakening, balancing one another: sati holds the group in equilibrium, dhamma-vicaya, viriya, and pīti energize when the mind is sluggish, passaddhi, samādhi, and upekkhā calm when the mind is agitated.
Where it sits
Bojjhaṅga overlaps substantially with the jhāna factors and the spiritual faculties but is organized around this specific energizing/calming balance, distinguishing it as its own analytical framework.
Recognizing that agitation calls for calming factors while dullness calls for energizing ones, with sati as the constant that notices which is needed, is bojjhaṅga applied as a practical diagnostic.
Commonly mistaken for
A sequence to move through in order. The seven are more a toolkit balanced by sati than a strict linear progression.
Identical to the jhāna factors. There's overlap, but bojjhaṅga is organized specifically around the energize/calm balance.
Bojjhaṅga Saṃyutta (SN 46); Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha VII.
Related terms