Grammatical Analysis
Bodhipakkhiyadhamma: [m.] The Requisites of Awakening; Wings to Enlightenment. Formed by bodhi (awakening) + pakkhiya (belonging to, on the side of) + dhamma (phenomena/principles).
Orthodox Definition
The Bodhipakkhiyadhammā are the 37 Wings to Awakening, representing the absolute, comprehensive summary of the Buddha’s practical teaching. Before his passing, the Buddha gathered the Saṅgha and declared that these exact 37 principles must be preserved and practiced to ensure the survival of the Dispensation.
They are organized into seven distinct sets:
- The 4 Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna)
- The 4 Right Strivings (Sammappadhāna)
- The 4 Bases of Spiritual Power (Iddhipāda)
- The 5 Spiritual Faculties (Indriya)
- The 5 Spiritual Powers (Bala)
- The 7 Factors of Enlightenment (Bojjhaṅga)
- The Noble Eightfold Path (Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga)
The Visuddhimagga explains that while these appear as 37 distinct items, doctrinally they reduce to just 14 ultimate mental factors (cetasika) operating under different functional titles (e.g., sati appears as a foundation, a faculty, a power, an enlightenment factor, and a path factor).
Textual References
- Sutta: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) – The dramatic scene at Vesālī where the Buddha officially hands over the 37 principles to the Saṅgha as his ultimate legacy.
- Canonical: Samyutta Nikaya (Mahāvagga) – The entire final book of the SN is dedicated to expanding on these seven sets.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XXII) – The supreme analytical synthesis reducing the 37 wings to their core psychological elements.