Reading guide
Seven factors, named without elaboration
“Satta bojjhaṅgā” — “the seven awakening factors” — is named as one group, its own seven members presupposed rather than individually spelled out, exactly as SN 43.5–9 named their own numbered lists.
The last step before the vagga's own close
SN 43.11 will restore the full closing exhortation elided here and in every discourse since SN 43.2, confirmed by reading the file directly rather than assumed — the seven awakening factors are the last of this vagga's own eleven path-formulations before the noble eightfold path itself closes the list.
Key terms
satta bojjhaṅgā — “the seven awakening factors” — named here as one group, its own seven members not individually listed
satisambojjhaṅgo — “the awakening factor of mindfulness” — the first of the seven, presupposed rather than spelled out in this discourse's own text
upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo — “the awakening factor of equanimity” — the seventh and last, likewise presupposed here
asaṅkhatagāmimaggo — “the path that leads to the unconditioned” — the question this discourse opens directly on, for the last time in this vagga's own compressed form
dasamaṁ — “tenth” — this vagga's own internal count-marker, left untranslated in the root
The text
The complete discourse, as genuinely translated — this vagga's own compressed form, the last discourse held to it before SN 43.11 restores the full formula. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? The seven awakening factors. …”
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Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
What does this discourse name as "the path that leads to the unconditioned"?
Correct: A. Mindfulness, investigation, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity — presupposed rather than individually spelled out here.
Question 2 of 3
What changes starting with the next discourse, SN 43.11?
Correct: A. SN 43.11 closes Paṭhamavagga by restoring the formula's full closing exhortation, last given in full at SN 43.1.
Question 3 of 3
How many awakening factors does the conventional list name?
Correct: A. The seven awakening factors, though not individually spelled out in this compressed discourse's own text.