There are seven Factors of Enlightenment given by the Buddha. Of these, Mindfulness (sati) is the foremost. It must be developed at all times in full measure. The other six fall into two groups, those which tend to exert the mind when it needs to be exerted, and those that subdue the mind when it needs to be subdued. One important facet of Mindfulness is to determine which factor needs developing. The following list gives the methods recommended for developing each factor.
Factors which exert the mind
Investigation of States (dhammavicaya)
asking questions of a teacher; study
making the basis clean; body, clothes and home clean and neat
balancing the Five Faculties
avoidance of persons without understanding
cultivation of persons with understanding
"reviewing the field for the exercise of profound knowledge"; i.e. applying your dharma knowledge to the mental factors as they arise
resoluteness upon that investigation of states
Energy (viriya)
reviewing the fearfulness of the States of Loss (hell etc.) as a grounds for urgency
seeing the benefits in obtaining the mundane and supramundane distinctions dependent upon energy (i.e. jhana and enlightenment)
reviewing the Path as "this is the Path trod by Buddhas and is not for idlers"
being a credit to the almsfood
reviewing the greatness of the Buddha thus "the Buddha praised the energetic, not the slothful"
reviewing the greatness of the heritage thus "it is the Great Heritage of the Dhamma that I seek and it cannot be obtained by an idler"
removing stiffness and torpor by perception of light, change of posture, frequent the open air etc.
avoidance of idle persons
cultivation of energetic persons
reviewing the Four Right Endeavours (encourage wholesome mental states already arisen and not yet arisen, discourage unwholesome mental states already arisen and not yet arisen)
resoluteness upon that energy
Joy (pīti)
recollection of the Buddha
recollection of the Dhamma
recollection of the Sangha
recollection of virtuous acts you have performed
recollection of generous acts you have performed
recollection of deities
recollection of Peace
avoidance of rough persons
cultivation of refined persons
reviewing encouraging discourses
resoluteness upon that happiness
Factors which subdue the mind
Tranquillity (passadhi)
using superior food
living in a good climate (avoidance of temperature extremes and other bodily discomfort)
maintaining a pleasant posture
"keeping to the middle" ; avoiding extremes as too tense or too relaxed etc.
avoidance of violent persons
cultivation of persons tranquil in body
resoluteness upon that tranquillity
Concentration (samādhi)
making the basis clean; body, clothes and home clean and neat
skill in the sign
balancing the Five Faculties
restraining the mind when it ought to be restrained
exerting the mind when it ought to be exerted
encouraging the listless mind by means of faith and a sense of urgency
looking on with equanimity at what is occurring rightly
avoidance of unconcentrated persons
cultivation of persons who have obtained skill in concentration
reviewing of the jhanas and liberations
resoluteness upon that concentration
Equanimity (uppekhā)
maintenance of neutrality toward living beings
maintenance of neutrality toward formations and inanimate things
avoidance of persons who show favouritism toward living beings and inanimate things
cultivation of persons who maintain neutrality toward living beings and inanimate things