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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN46: Connected Discourses on the Factors of Enlightenment

SN46:77–88 The River Ganges—Eastward, Etc.

1"Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gaṅgā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satta bojjhaṅge bhāvento satta bojjhaṅge bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop and cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness … he develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna."

The remaining suttas of this vagga are to be similarly elaborated parallel to 45.92–96 and 45.97–102. sn.v.135

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satta bojjhaṅge bhāvento satta bojjhaṅge bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti … pe … upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ … evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satta bojjhaṅge bhāvento satta bojjhaṅge bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro"ti. (Yāva esanā pāḷi vitthāretabbā.)

Gaṅgāpeyyālavaggo navamo.



2Six about slanting to the east
And six about slanting to the ocean.
These two sixes make up twelve:
Thus the subchapter is recited.

2Cha pācīnato ninnā,
cha ninnā ca samuddato;
Dvete cha dvādasa honti,
vaggo tena pavuccatīti.