40b: The Last Days 2, In Vajji – 1553
37 Factors on the Side of Awakening
Then the Buddha, accompanied by Ven. Ānanda, went to the Pinnacled Hall at
the Great Wood. There, he said to him: “Ānanda, go and summon all the
monastics living in Vesālī to come and assemble in the Assembly Hall.” Ven.
Ānanda caused all the monastics living in Vesālī to gather in the Assembly Hall.
Then he went to the Buddha, made obeisance to him, and standing in a certain
place, reported: “Venerable sir, the monastics are assembled. May the Fortunate
One go to them as and when he wishes.”
Then the Buddha went to the Assembly Hall, took his seat prepared for him, and
addressed the monastics as follows: “Monastics, the doctrines which I have
perceived through path-insight and which I have expounded to you should be
mastered, resorted to, cultivated, put to constant practice. If you master, resort
to, cultivate and constantly practise these doctrines, this teaching, which is the
practice of purity, will endure long and perpetuate itself, thus making for the
welfare of mankind, the preservation of the world, the benefit, well-being and
happiness of Devas and humans.
These doctrines are:
1. The four methods of steadfast mindfulness (
sati-paṭṭhāna
).
2. The four supreme efforts (
sammapadāna
).
3. The four bases of psychic power (
iddhi-pāda
).
4. The five faculties (
indriya
).
5. The five powers (
bala
).
6. The seven factors of awakening (
bojjhaṅga
).
7. The noble eightfold path (
ariya-magga
).
Monastics, these 37 doctrines constituents of Awakening, which I have
perceived through path-insight and expounded to you, should be mastered,
resorted to, cultivated, and put into constant practice. If you master, resort to,
cultivate and constantly practise these doctrines, this teaching, which is the
practice of purity, will endure long and perpetuate itself, thus making for the
welfare of mankind, the preservation of the world, the benefit, well-being and
happiness of Devas and humans.”