Seven-Factored (Part 2)

Here, I will deal with the discourses on Bojjhangas as well as the practice of paritta recital and its relevance. As mentioned earlier, there are various discourses on Bojjhangas as given by the Buddha himself. Few notable ones involve Venerable Kassapa and Maha Moggalana, two of His noble disciples. On separate occasions, both Venerable Kassapa and Maha Moggalana were infected with diseases and subsequently they were gravely ill. So the Lord visited them and recited the Discourse on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. After recitation, the Lord gave a discourse on it. As a result, they recovered from their illnesses.

Similarly on another occasion, The Buddha who was living in the Bamboo Grove was afflicted with a disease and suffered great pain. Then Venerable Maha Cunda approached the Lord and took care of Him. The Lord requested Venerable Cunda to recite the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. Subsequently, the Lord recovered from His illness.

It is less realized that listening and recitation of the Dhamma (discourses) have been a known practice even during the Buddha’s time for protection and deliverance from evil. These selected discourses for recital are known as Paritta (Protective) Suttas. In this context, the Discourse on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment or Bojjhanga Sutta is a paritta sutta and has been widely used for recitation to the sick and those in pain to promote recovery and well-being.

According to Venerable Piyadassi Thera, in his brief writings on The Value of Paritta Suttas, sutta recital is a form of Sacca-Kiriya, of depending on the truth for protection, justification, or attainment. Put it succinctly, it is the power of truth that protects the followers of the truth. If this principal is true that virtue protects the virtuous, the one who listens to these sayings with complete confidence in the truth of the Buddha’s words will acquire so virtuous a state of mind that he will be able to conquer any evil influence.

“It is understood that listening to these Paritta Suttas must produce, in the intelligent and confident listener only wholesome states which can cure and prevent illness…
Diseases are often caused by mental states. Body becomes ill because the mind controlling it either secretly wants to make it ill or because it is in a state of agitation that it cannot prevent the body from becoming sick…
There is no better medicine than truth (Dhamma) for both the mental and physical ills which are the cause of all suffering…”

The Discourse on the Seven Factors of Enlightenment is none other than the ultimate justifiable truth; following which will guide one towards enlightenment. May we then rejoice over this very Truth and hence be protected from all physical and mental suffering, evils, enmity, and danger.

“Dhamma Have Rakkhahati Dhamma Carim”
(The power of truth protects the followers of the truth)

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!