Aggi Sutta

The Aggi Sutta (Fire Discourse) is a discourse (sutta) in the Bojjhanga Samyutta. This post describes some relationships between the five hindrances and the seven factors of enlightenment.

Buddhism
Philosophy
Author

Lam Fu Yuan, Kevin

Published

February 16, 2025

Introduction

  1. The Aggi Sutta (Fire Discourse) is a discourse (sutta) in the Bojjhanga Samyutta. The Bojjhanga Samyutta is a samyutta (chapter) in the Maha Vagga. The Maha Vagga is a vagga (section) in the Samyutta Nikaya. The Samyutta Nikaya is a nikaya (collection) in the Sutta Pitaka. The Sutta Pitaka is a pitaka (basket) in the Tipitaka. The Tipitaka is the Pali Canon which forms the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism.

  2. In the Aggi Sutta, the Buddha describes some relationships between the five hindrances and the seven factors of enlightenment (SN 46.53).

Five Hindrances

  1. The five hindrances (pañca nīvaraņa) are sensual desire (kāmacchanda), ill-will (vyāpāda), sloth-torpor (thīna-middha), restlessness-worry (uddhacca-kukkucca) and doubt (vicikicchā) (AN 9.64).

  2. The hindrances overwhelm the mind (cetaso ajjhāruhā) and weaken wisdom (paññāya dubbalīkaraṇā): the mind is unable to discern whether something is good for the self, for others or for both the self and others (AN 5.51; SN 46.55).

Seven Factors of Enlightenment

  1. The seven factors of enlightenment (satta bojjhaṅga) are mindfulness (sati), investigation of dhamma (dhammavicaya), energy (viriya), rapture (piti), calm (passaddhi), concentration (samadhi) and equanimity (upekkhā) (SN 46.1).

  2. The factors of enlightenment decrease either sloth-torpor or restlessness-worry (SN 46.53).

Sloth-Topor and Seven Factors of Enlightenment

  1. The factors of mindfulness, investigation of dhamma, energy and rapture decrease sloth-torpor. The cultivation these factors in order to decrease sloth-torpor is analogous to the placing of dry grass, dry cow dung or dry wood, the blowing of dry wind and the not scattering of dirt in order to build a small fire (SN 46.53).

  2. The factors of calm, concentration and equanimity do not decrease sloth-torpor. The cultivation of these factors in order to decrease sloth-torpor is analogous to the placing of wet grass, wet cow dung or wet wood, the blowing of moist wind, and the scattering of dirt, in order to build a small fire (SN 46.53).

Restlessness-Worry and Seven Factors of Enlightenment

  1. The factors of mindfulness, calm, concentration and equanimity decrease restlessness-worry. The cultivation of these factors in order to decrease restlessness-worry is analogous to the placing of wet grass, wet cow dung or wet wood, the blowing moist wind and the scattering dirt in order to extinguish a big fire (SN 46.53).

  2. The investigation of dhamma, energy and rapture do not decrease restlessness-worry. The cultivation of these factors in order to decrease restlessness-worry is analogous to the placing of dry grass, dry cow dung or dry wood, the blowing of dry wind and the not scattering of dirt in order to extinguish a big fire (SN 46.53).

Conclusion

  1. Therefore, if an individual has sloth-torpor, then it is appropriate to cultivate mindfulness, investigation of dhamma, energy and rapture, but it is inappropriate to cultivate calm, concentration and equanimity.

  2. And if an individual has restlessness-worry, then it is appropriate to cultivate mindfulness, calm, concentration and equanimity, but it is inappropriate to cultivate investigation of dhamma, energy and rapture.