37 Factors of Enlightenment – Meditation To Attain Arahanthood

The 37 factors of Enlightenment (Bōdhipakkhiya Dhamma) summarize the steps a Sotāpanna must follow to attain Arahanthood. Even though it is good to know about them, a puthujjana cannot cultivate them until becoming a Sotāpanna.

October 10, 2026

Introduction

1. The Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118) provides a succinct roadmap to Nibbāna starting as a puthujjana.

Sabbāsava Sutta

2. The “Sabbāsava Sutta (MN 2)” briefly discusses the same steps a puthujjana must complete to attain the Arahant stage in a different way: “Some defilements should be given up by seeing (‘dassanā pahātabbā‘), some by restraint (‘saṁvarā pahātabbā‘), some by using (‘paṭisevanā pahātabbā‘), some by enduring (‘adhivāsanā pahātabbā‘), some by avoiding (‘parivajjanā pahātabbā‘), some by dispelling (‘vinodanā pahātabbā‘), and some by insight meditation (‘bhāvanā pahātabbā‘)”.

  • As the description below shows, ‘dassanā pahātabbā‘ is the critical step of removing wrong views (including sakkāya diṭṭhi) and attaining the Sotāpanna stage. That is the same as the first stage of Ānāpānasati.
  • The last step of ‘bhāvanā pahātabbā‘ is the third stage of Ānāpānasati.
  • The five steps in between (‘saṁvarā pahātabbā‘, paṭisevanā pahātabbā‘, ‘adhivāsanā pahātabbā‘, ‘parivajjanā pahātabbā‘, ‘vinodanā pahātabbā‘) are what a Sotāpanna must complete to enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmiso they can engage in Vipassanā, or ‘insight meditation’, or ‘bhāvanā pahātabbā‘.
  • The Buddha also described those three main steps in other ways, but they all describe the same process in different ways. See “Is It Necessary for a Sotāpanna to Abstain from Sensual Pleasures?“
Three Main Stages to Arahanthood

3. To summarize the above, the three main stages involved in attaining the Arahanthood starting as a puthujjana are the following.

  • In the first stage, a puthujjana attains the Sotāpanna stage by embracing the ‘Buddha’s worldview’ (‘āna‘) and rejecting the ‘mundane worldviews’ (‘āpāna‘). The latter holds that the world offers ‘sensory pleasures’, but the Buddha taught that they are illusions. The ‘illusion of sensory pleasures’ is induced in all living beings through types of ‘distorted saññā‘ associated with the specific realm they are in. See “Saññā In Kāma, Rupa, and Arupa Loka“.
  • A Sotāpanna has ‘seen with wisdom’ that ‘distorted saññā‘ is generated by the mind itself, and that is Sammā Diṭṭhi, the first part of the Noble Eightfold Path; see “Consciousness and Color Perception – Current Scientific Understanding“. By getting there, they have eliminated three of the ten saṁyojana that bind one to the rebirth process via eliminating the wrong views, and that is ‘dassanā pahātabbā‘.
  • Upon receiving any sensory input, the mind of any living being is automatically defiled via some of the ten saṁyojana. Only an Arahant has eliminated all ten saṁyojana and can avoid that mind contamination. The key point is that any saṁyojana is triggered by ‘distorted saññā’, and a defiled mind is unable to think clearly. To attain higher magga phala, a Sotāpanna must cultivate Satipaṭṭhāna to enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi free of any ‘distorted saññā‘. The second stage is the process required to enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi at any time.
  • Once having access to the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi, a Sotāpanna can engage in the third stage of ‘bhāvanā pahātabbā’ to eliminate the remaining seven saṁyojana to attain the Arahant stage. This is where a Sotāpanna engages in Vipassanā or ‘insight meditation’. 
First Stage Must be Completed First

4. The key point that I am trying to get across is the following. Many people waste time on the second and third stages without completing the first. For example, many people try to engage in Vipassanā before cultivating Satipaṭṭhāna. They also try to cultivate Satipaṭṭhāna before attaining the Sotāpanna stage.

  • The above-summarized sequential process is laid out sequentially in the Saṁyutta Nikāya books.
  • Books 2, 3, and 4 discuss the material required to attain the Sotāpanna stage; see below.
  • At the end of Book 4, the 37 factors involved in the second and third stages are introduced.
  • These are discussed in detail in Books 5(1) and 5(2).
The First Stage – Attaining the Sotāpanna Stage

5.  An overview of the first stage is in “Unique Worldview of a Sotāpanna.” 

Second Stage – Cultivating the 37 Factors of Enlightenment

6. Cultivating the 37 factors of Enlightenment (Bōdhipakkhiya Dhamma) are needed only after getting to the Sotāpanna stage, in the second stage and third stages. However, don’t take my word; each person must verify it to their satisfaction. In the following, I will summarize these concepts as introduced in the last three books of the Saṁyutta Nikāya. 

Pañca Indriya First

7. Cultivation of the 37 factors starts with the ‘arising of the Pañca Indriya’ at the Sotāpanna phala moment. 

  • A series of suttās in the “Indriya Saṁyutta (SN 48)”, starting with the “Suddhika Sutta (SN 48.1)“, discusses Pañca Indriya, or the five faculties.
  • The next sutta, “Paṭhamasotāpanna Sutta (SN 48.2),” states that a Sotāpanna with the Pañca Indriya is free from rebirths in the apāyās: “yaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ ti“.
  • The “Daṭṭhabba Sutta (SN 48.8)” states that one would have the saddā indriya once one has fulfilled the four conditions for the Sotāpanna stage: “Catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu—ettha saddhindriyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ“.
  • The “Sekha Sutta (SN 48.53)” states that a bhikkhu who is a Sekha (Noble Person below the Arahant stage) understands the five faculties. Starting at marker 6.2, it explains that this understanding is complete when the Sekha attains the Arahant stage, i.e., becomes an Asekha.
  • It is a good idea to scan through the suttās in that series.

8. The 37 factors of Enlightenment (Bōdhipakkhiya Dhamma) can be listed in the order of practice as follows:

  • Cultivation of Satipaṭṭhāna is the first goal; see “Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22).” But that is possible only after the arising of the Five Faculties (Pañca Indriya) at the Sotāpanna stage, as discussed in #7 above.
  • Then a Sotāpanna must make the Four Supreme Efforts (Cattārō Sammāppadhāna); see, for example, “Pācīnādi Sutta (SN 49.1).”
  • That leads to Five Faculties (Pañca Indriya) elevating to the Five Powers (Pañca Bala); see, for example, “Punaoghādi Sutta (SN 50.99).” This sutta states that the five highest saṁyojanās are overcome with Pañca Bala.
  • That leads to the Four Bases of Mental Power (Cattārō Iddhipāda); see a series of suttās starting with the “Apāra Sutta (SN 51.1).”
  • Once gaining access to the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi, a Sotāpanna can start cultivating the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Satta Bojjhaṅga); see, for example, “Paṭhamaānanda Sutta (SN 54.13).”
  • In the process of cultivating the Satta Bojjhaṅga, the Factors of the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga) will be completed. A series of suttās in the Ānāpāna Saṁyutta, starting with the “Ekadhamma Sutta (SN 54.1),” describes the steps from the puthujjana level to the Arahant level.
Accessing/Entering the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi

9. During the second stage, the first goal is to gain access to the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi. That means the cultivation of Cattārō Satipaṭṭhāna (Note: these are not kāyānupassanā through dhammānupassanā, but kāye kāyānupassanā through dhamme dhammānupassanā. Kāyānupassanā through dhammānupassanā is completed in the first stage; see #4 of “First Stage of Ānāpānasati – Verses in Ānāpānasati Sutta“).

  • Cultivating Satipaṭṭhāna requires cultivating the Pañca Indriya, which develop into the Pañca Bala in the process. 
  • That is accomplished with the Four Supreme Efforts (Cattārō Sammāppadhāna).
  • During that process, the Four Bases of Mental Power (Cattārō Iddhipāda) are cultivated, and some attain iddhi (supernormal) powers.
  • The fruit of that effort is to attain Sati Sambojjhaṅga, the first of the Satta Bojjhaṅga, with the mind entering the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi.
  • That is when a Sotāpanna can start engaging in Vipassanā inside the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi, free of any type of lokiya saññā.
  • The following chart illustrates those key points.

  • Download/Print: “Overcoming Kāma Saññā -3“

  • The above chart is from “Ānāpānasati – Mindfulness (Sati) Based on Buddha’s Worldview“.
  • Note that the ‘cultivation of Satipaṭṭhāna‘ in the above chart can be implemented in the second stage, only after a puthujjana attains the Sotāpanna stage. However, it helps a puthujjana get a basic idea of the overall process. 
What Is Special About Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi?

10. The mind of a puthujjana is affected at ALL TIMES by some type of lokiya saññā (saññā belonging to the world, i.e., ‘distorted saññā‘). 

  • Thus, avijjā and hence pañca nīvaraṇa arise automatically with any sensory input for a puthujjana. Thus, a puthujjana ALWAYS makes unwise decisions in response to any sensory input. Any of the ten types of saṁyojana (which ones play a role depends on the specific sensory input) can affect their decisions.
  • Although a Sotāpanna has eliminated the three diṭṭhi saṁyojana, they still have four saṁyojana associated with taṇhā (kāma rāga, patigha, rupa rāga, arupa rāga) and three associated with avijjā (māna, uddacca, avijjā). Therefore, during daily life, their minds are also automatically contaminated by avijjā and pañca nīvaraṇa. The only difference is that, without the three diṭṭhi saṁyojana, they are prevented from engaging in apāyagāmi deeds; that is why they are free of rebirths in the apāyās.
Meditating in the Absence of Avijjā/Pañca Nīvaraṇa

11. Both avijjā and pañca nīvaraṇa are absent while the mind of a Sotāpanna is in the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi. Thus, Paṭicca Samuppāda processes (and, thus, pancupadanakkhandha processes) do not take place there. Therefore, the arising of any saṅkappa that would automatically move a mind to the ‘kāma loka‘ will not occur in the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi. Only Sammā Saṅkappa (the second factor in the Noble Eightfold Path) can arise; the other factors in the Noble Eightfold Path (up to Sammā Samādhi) will also be fulfilled. In other words, one would have Sammā Samādhi while in the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi.

  • That allows one to engage in insight meditation (Vipassanā) to attain higher magga phala (Sakadagami, Anagami, Arahant). The Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi is not devoid of thoughts; it is devoid of ‘defiled thoughts’ based on avijjā. In other words, avijjā does not arise while in the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi. Avijjā in a mind must be triggered by a ‘lokiya saññā‘ or a type of ‘distorted saññā‘. See “What Does “Paccayā” Mean in Paṭicca Samuppāda?“
  • Having Sammā Samādhi does not automatically remove the remaining saṁyojana from a Sotāpanna‘s mind. They must engage in Vipassanā with Sammā Samādhi. That means evaluating critical Dhamma concepts like Paṭicca Samuppāda and Tilakkhaṇa; this is the second of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Satta Bojjhaṅga), i.e., the Dhammavicaya Sabbojjhaṅga.
  • During that process, the other factors of the Satta Bojjhaṅga (vīriya sambojjhaṅga, pīti sambojjhaṅga, passaddhi sambojjhaṅga, samādhi sambojjhaṅga, upekkhā sambojjhaṅga) are cultivated, and one would attain the remaining magga phala also.
  • Thus, even a Sotāpanna cannot attain any higher magga phala without cultivating Satipaṭṭhāna to enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi.
Magga Phala Attained in Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi

12. Therefore, the next critical step for a Sotāpanna is to enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi to cultivate the Satta Bojjhaṅga.

  • That would automatically fulfill the Noble Eightfold Path.
  • That is how a Sotāpanna fulfills the 37 factors of Enlightenment in a process starting with the cultivation of Satipaṭṭhāna.
  • Two critical facts should be clear from the above discussion: (i) Only a Sotāpanna can cultivate Satipaṭṭhāna and enter Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi to cultivate the Satta Bojjhaṅga to complete the Noble Eightfold Path. (ii) Even a Sotāpanna cannot attain any higher magga phala without cultivating Satipaṭṭhāna.
  • Even when a puthujjana attains the Sotāpanna stage, their minds enter the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhūmi for a brief time; see #8 of “Is It Necessary for a Sotāpanna to Abstain from Sensual Pleasures?“
Mind-Defiling Entities Eliminated With Vipassanā 

13. A series of short suttās in the Saṁyutta Nikāya Book 5(1) summarize various entities that are eliminated in the process of cultivating the 37 factors.

Bōdhipakkhiya – Toward Bodhi or Nibbāna

14. The Pāli word ‘bodhi‘ means ‘Nibbāna‘. Bōdhipakkhiya means ‘toward bodhi‘ or ‘toward Nibbāna.’ 

  • Bōdhipakkhiya bhāvanā is defined at the end of the “Aggañña Sutta (DN 27)” in the following verse: “Khattiyopi kho, vāseṭṭha, kāyena saṁvuto vācāya saṁvuto manasā saṁvuto sattannaṁ bodhipakkhiyānaṁ dhammānaṁ bhāvanamanvāya diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati“.
  • It means: “Anyone who is restrained in body, speech, and mind, engages in meditation on the seven steps toward awakening (sattannaṁ bodhipakkhiyānaṁ dhammānaṁ bhāvanamanvāya), will attain Parinibbana in this very life (diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati)”.
  • The seven steps toward awakening are the ‘Satta Bojjhaṅga‘ or the ‘seven constituents of the bodhi‘. Here, ‘satta‘ means ‘seven’ and ‘bojjhaṅga‘ (‘bodhi‘ + ‘aṅga‘) means the ‘components or parts of Nibbāna‘. They are:  Sati sambojjhaṅga, dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅga, vīriya sambojjhaṅga, pīti sambojjhaṅga, passaddhi sambojjhaṅga, samādhi sambojjhaṅga, upekkhā sambojjhaṅga.
  • Those are stated in the “Bojjhaṅga Sutta (AN 10.102),” and at the end of the sutta, it says they lead to Nibbāna or Arahanthood.
  • Only a Sotāpanna can cultivate the seven steps (‘Satta Bojjhaṅga‘) that result in higher magga phala, ending at Arahanthood. The cultivation of the 37 Factors of Enlightenment (37 Bōdhipakkhiya Dhamma) is fulfilled only with the completion of the Satta Bojjhaṅga.
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