SN46.3 — Silasutta
Disciples, those noble ones who are accomplished in virtue, concentration, knowing, liberation, and the knowing and vision of liberation, I declare that for those disciples, seeing those noble ones is greatly beneficial; listening to them is greatly beneficial; approaching them is greatly beneficial; attending to them is greatly beneficial; remembering them is greatly beneficial; following them is greatly beneficial. Why is that?
Because having heard the Dhamma from them, such disciples live touched by two kinds of satisfaction: bodily satisfaction and mental satisfaction. Living thus touched, they remember and think about that Dhamma.
A disciple, living thus touched, remembers and thinks about that Dhamma, at that time the awakening factor of mindfulness is aroused; he develops the awakening factor of mindfulness; the awakening factor of mindfulness comes to fulfillment by development. Living thus mindful, he examines, explores, and fully investigates that Dhamma with wisdom.
When a disciple, living thus mindful, examines, explores, and fully investigates that Dhamma with wisdom, at that time the awakening factor of investigation of Dhamma is aroused in him;
He develops the awakening factor of investigation of Dhamma; the awakening factor of investigation of Dhamma comes to fulfillment by development.
For him, examining, exploring, and fully investigating that Dhamma with wisdom, energy is aroused without slackening.
When examining, exploring, fully investigating that Dhamma with wisdom, energy is aroused without slackening, at that time the awakening factor of energy is aroused; he develops the awakening factor of energy; the awakening factor of energy comes to fulfillment by development.
For one with aroused energy, unworldly joy arises. With the awakening factor of joy aroused; he develops the awakening factor of joy; the awakening factor of joy comes to fulfillment by development in that disciple.
With joyful mind, both body and mind become tranquil. When the awakening factor of tranquility is aroused in that disciple; he develops the awakening factor of tranquility; the awakening factor of tranquility comes to fulfillment by development in that disciple.
For one with a tranquil body and happy mind, the mind becomes concentrated. At that time the awakening factor of concentration is aroused; he develops the awakening factor of concentration; the awakening factor of concentration comes to fulfillment by development in that disciple. Thus concentrated, he closely looks on with equanimity.
When a disciple, thus concentrated, closely looks on with equanimity, at that time the awakening factor of equanimity is aroused in that disciple; he develops the awakening factor of equanimity; the awakening factor of equanimity comes to fulfillment by development in that disciple.
Disciples, when these seven factors of awakening are developed and cultivated in this way, seven fruits and benefits can be expected. What are the seven fruits and benefits?
They attain enlightenment in this very life. If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death.
If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, theyre extinguished between this life and the next.
If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters theyre extinguished upon landing in a higher realm.
If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters theyre extinguished with little effort in that realm.
If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters theyre extinguished with extra effort.
If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.
When the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated in this way these are the seven fruits and benefits they can expect.