1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as whatever strenuous deeds are done, are all done based upon the earth, established upon the earth,

so too, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the Factors of Enlightenment.

i. based upon seclusion

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the Factors of Enlightenment?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
develops the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states,
develops the enlightenment factor of energy,
develops the enlightenment factor of rapture,
develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity,
develops the enlightenment factor of concentration,
develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity,
- which are based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the Factors of Enlightenment."

ii. removal of lust

… "And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the Factors of Enlightenment?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
develops the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states,
develops the enlightenment factor of energy,
develops the enlightenment factor of rapture,
develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity,
develops the enlightenment factor of concentration,
develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity,
- which have as their final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the Factors of Enlightenment."

iii. the Deathless

… "And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the Factors of Enlightenment?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
develops the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states,
develops the enlightenment factor of energy,
develops the enlightenment factor of rapture,
develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity,
develops the enlightenment factor of concentration,
develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity,
- which have the Deathless as their ground, the Deathless as their destination, the Deathless as their final goal.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the Factors of Enlightenment."

iv. towards Nibbāna

… "And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the Factors of Enlightenment?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
develops the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states,
develops the enlightenment factor of energy,
develops the enlightenment factor of rapture,
develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity,
develops the enlightenment factor of concentration,
develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity,
- which slant, slope, and incline towards Nibbāna.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the Factors of Enlightenment."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti; …