Need help to understand enlightenment factor of state

[Quynh]

Dhamma greetings,

Could someone please explain to me what investigate the enlightenment factor of state mean? I have tried to look online but still not understand what this mean. Thank you.

[Snowbird]

Are you referring to the awakening factor of investigation of principles (dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga)?

Here are some links to suttas that mention it, although they may not have exactly what you are looking for.

[Quynh]

Found it. Thank you.

SN 46.51: Āhārasutta—Bhikkhu Bodhi

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states? There are, bhikkhus, wholesome and unwholesome states, blameable and blameless states, inferior and superior states, dark and bright states with their counterparts: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states.”

[Mark_Foote]

@Quynh

SN 46.51

Sound like mental states, don’t they?

[Mkoll]

Here’s its entry from the Encyclopedia of Buddhism, edited by G.P. Malalasekera.

[Pasanna]

If you go to SN46.1:1.7 and look at Bhante Sujato’s note (tap the N key if you don’t see it). There is a small explanation of dhammavicaya, translated as ’ investigation of principles’ by him.

Dhamma means the “principle” of cause and effect, as in “observation of principles” (dhammānupassanā ), “investigation of principles” (dhammavicaya ), or “discernment of principles” (dhammavipassanā ).

In the sutta you linked it is talking about understanding/investigating what creates skillful and unskillful qualities/states (of mind).

There are qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, and those with a portion of dark or bright. Frequent rational application of mind to them fuels the arising of the awakening factor of investigation of principles, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.