The Noble Eightfold Path and the Factors of Enlightenment : หน้า 42/263

kings must accept with obeisance. This is because the Noble Eightfold Path is a supreme and noble practice. 2. A Wide Ocean: It can be compared to the wide ocean into which all rivers must flow. The Noble Eightfold Path is endowed with all thirty-seven of the Factors of Enlightenment. The Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment comprise of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness¹, The Four Strivings², The Four Foundations of Success³, The Five Faculties⁴, The Five Powers⁵, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment⁶ and the Noble Eightfold Path. 3. A Palace Spire: It can be compared to a jewel on top of the spire of the palace of the Lord Buddha’s Teachings. The ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ¹. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness comprise: 1. mindfulness of the body [kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna]; 2. mindfulness of the feelings [vedanānupassanā-satipaṭṭhāna]; 3. mindfulness of the mind [cittānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna], and ; 4. mindfulness of mental phenomena [dhamānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna]. ². The Four Strivings comprise: 1. Avoidance of evils not yet done [sāvura-padhāna]; 2. Abandonment of evils already done [pāhana-padhāna]; 3. Development of virtues not yet done [bhāvanā-padhāna], and; 4. Maintenance of virtues already mastered [anurakkhaṇā-padhāna]. ³. The Four Foundations of Success comprise: 1. Initial Willing [chanda]; Having the initial enthusiasm to do a task and the wish always to improve; 2. Initial Application [viriya]; Getting down to doing the task with effort and patience to overcome possible hindrances and provacations; 3. Continued Application [citta]; Following through with the task to completion by full immersion of our attention in the task, and; 4. Review [vimaṃsa]; Using our wisdom to look for room for improvement in the way we do the task. ⁴. The Five Faculties (characteristics that put us in control of a task) comprise: 1. Confidence [saddhā]; 2. Energy/Effort [viriya]; 3. Mindfulness [sati]; 4. Concentration [samādhi] and; 5. Wisdom [paññā]. These virtues are called 'indriya' because they allow us to take control of our doubts, laziness, recklessness, absent-mindedness and ignorance respectively. The same five virtues are sometimes called the ’Five Powers’ [bala] (see note 5 below). ⁵. The Five Powers: These are the same five virtues mentioned as the Five Faculties of note 4, but here they are described from the point of view of ’empowering’ us in a task and making us invulnerable to the perils of doubts, laziness, recklessness, absent-mindedness and ignorance respectively. The Five Powers are irreplaceable principles of practice for our practice towards liberation and Nirvana. ⁶. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment comprise: 1. Mindfulness [sati]; 2. Wise Examination of Dhamma [dhammanavicaya]; 3. Effort/Energy [viriya]; 4. Joy [pīti]; 5. Peacefulness of Mind [passaddhi]; 6. Concentration [samādhi], and; 7. Equanimity /Letting go [upekkhā].