Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 46.34

Not Corruptions

Anupakkilesasutta — Nīvaraṇavagga

Setting
Not specified — an abbreviated narrative frame
Speakers
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants directly
Form
A brief antithetical statement, directly answering SN 46.33's own gold simile
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, but structurally pivotal as an immediate antithesis

Why this discourse

Immediately following SN 46.33's own extended gold simile, this discourse states the direct antithesis: the seven awakening factors are “not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind” at all — and, positively, lead to the realization of knowledge and freedom's own fruit.

Reading guide

An antithesis placed immediately, not delayed

Confirmed by direct sequence, this discourse's own placement right after SN 46.33 makes its own antithetical function explicit — where the preceding discourse named five specific corruptions in detail, this one names what the awakening factors are NOT, using the same vocabulary (“obstacles, hindrances, corruptions”) in direct negation.

Key terms

na āvaraṇā na nīvaraṇā na cetaso upakkilesā — “not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind” — the discourse's own direct negation, using the same three near-synonymous terms found throughout this vagga
bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattanti — “when developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom” — the discourse's own positive counterpart to the negation
sati... upekkhā — the seven awakening factors, named in brief succession as this discourse's own subject
upakkilesa — “corruption” — the same term used at SN 46.33 for what corrupts gold and mind alike, here explicitly denied of the awakening factors
catutthaṁ — “the fourth” — the Pāli root's own closing numeral for this discourse

The text

The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“Mendicants, these seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”

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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 state about the seven awakening factors, in direct contrast to SN 46.33's own gold simile?
Correct: A. An explicit antithesis, using the same vocabulary as the preceding discourse in direct negation.
Question 2 of 3
What positive outcome does the discourse name for developing and cultivating the awakening factors?
Correct: A. The discourse's own positive counterpart, balancing the negative claim.
Question 3 of 3
What three near-synonymous terms does this discourse deny of the awakening factors?
Correct: A. The same three terms used throughout this vagga, here explicitly negated.
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 46.33 · Corruptions