Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 46.36

Growth

Vuddhisutta — Nīvaraṇavagga

Setting
Not specified — an abbreviated narrative frame
Speakers
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants directly
Form
A brief categorical statement
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, this vagga's own briefest positive claim

Why this discourse

This discourse names a simple, positively-framed outcome — “growth and progress” (vuddhi and virūḷhi) — without the antithetical structure found in most of this vagga's own other discourses, a brief statement of what developing the seven awakening factors accomplishes in its own right.

Reading guide

A positive claim, without an explicit antithesis

Unlike SN 46.33-34's own paired corruption/non-corruption discourses or SN 46.37's own hindrance/awakening-factor contrast, this discourse simply states a positive outcome on its own, without pairing it against what the hindrances instead produce — a brief, self-contained claim within this vagga's own broader antithetical pattern.

Key terms

vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ — “growth and progress” — the outcome named for developing and cultivating the seven awakening factors, stated without an explicit contrasting claim about the hindrances
bhāvitā bahulīkatā — “developed and cultivated” — the standard phrase describing sustained meditative practice
sati... upekkhā — the seven awakening factors, named in brief succession as this discourse's own subject
chaṭṭhaṁ — “the sixth” — the Pāli root's own closing numeral for this discourse
vuddhi — “growth” — a term used elsewhere in the canon (notably in the Aṅguttara Nikāya's own list of five growth-qualities) for genuine spiritual increase

The text

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

§1“Mendicants, when the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to growth and progress. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. When these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to growth and progress.”

· · ·

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 outcome does this discourse name for developing the seven awakening factors?
Correct: A. A positive, self-contained claim about spiritual increase.
Question 2 of 3
How does this discourse's own structure differ from most others in this vagga?
Correct: A. A brief, self-contained claim within this vagga's own broader antithetical pattern.
Question 3 of 3
What two Pāli terms together make up this discourse's own named outcome?
Correct: A. A pair of near-synonymous terms for genuine spiritual increase.
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

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