Muni's PlayThe seven factors of enlightenment are sati, dhamma-vicaya, viriya, pīti, passaddhi, samādhi, and upekkhā.
The first three of the seven factors are causes and the latter four are effects. We don’t need to do anything to the effects of pīti, passaddhi, samādhi, and upekkhā. We can’t create them nor make them happen.
What we need to cultivate are the causes: Sati, dhamma-vicaya, and viriya. These are what we can work on. Out of these three, yogis often pay attention to sati and viriya, forgetting dhamma-vicaya.
Dhamma-vicaya is investigating phenomena, investigating what is happening, why it is happening, or how we are practicing by using the information we have, our intelligence, and wisdom.
Causes vs. Effects
| Factor of Enlightenment | Type | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Sati (Mindfulness) | Cause | Cultivate actively |
| Dhamma-vicaya (Investigation) | Cause | Cultivate actively |
| Viriya (Effort) | Cause | Cultivate actively |
| Pīti (Joy) | Effect | None (we can’t create them) |
| Passaddhi (Tranquillity) | Effect | None (we can’t create them) |
| Samādhi (Stability of mind) | Effect | None (we can’t create them) |
| Upekkhā (Equanimity) | Effect | None (we can’t create them) |
— Sayadaw Ashin Tejaniya