The Sequential Stages of Practicing the Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment

The progressive sequence of cultivating the Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment is roughly as follows: one begins by cultivating the faculty of faith among the five faculties, thereby increasing the five powers; afterward one enters the Noble Eightfold Path, initiating deliberative cultivation (manana) and cultivating the seven factors of enlightenment; within the factor of mindfulness, one practices the contemplation of the four foundations of mindfulness, attaining the flavor of wholesome dharmas and giving rise to the four right efforts; finally, as the fruit, through diligent and arduous cultivation one attains the bliss of the fruit of the four bases of supernatural power, and the mind gains freedom and liberation.

Each of the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment is not only to be cultivated and attained by the mind consciousness; at the same time, the manas is also being steeped in them, so that the manas too must cultivate the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment, and perfect and fulfill them completely, attaining each factor of the path and accomplishing the four bases of supernatural power.