One Quality
Ekadhamma Sutta (SN 46:29)
“Monks, I don’t envision any one other quality that, when thus developed & pursued, leads to the abandoning of things conducive to the fetters,1 aside from the seven factors for awakening. Which seven?
“There is the case where a monk develops mindfulness as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops analysis of qualities as a factor for awakening… persistence as a factor for awakening… rapture as a factor for awakening… calm as a factor for awakening… concentration as a factor for awakening… equanimity as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in letting go.
“When thus developed & pursued, the seven factors for awakening lead to the abandoning of things conducive to the fetters.
“And what are the things conducive to the fetters? The eye is a thing conducive to the fetters. It is here that these fetters, shackles, & graspings arise.
“The ear… the nose… the tongue… the body… the intellect is a thing conducive to the fetters. It is here that these fetters, shackles, & graspings arise. These are called the things conducive to the fetters.”
Note
1. Saññojanīyā dhammā. NDB mistakenly translates this as “things that fetter.” But as SN 35:191 makes clear, the senses are not fetters. The fetter lies in the desire-passion that arises in dependence on each sense organ and its appropriate object.
