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The 37 Factors are sometimes paired as balancing factors. When they are out of balance there are some implications, and there is a controlling (or pivotal) factor which is instrumental in keeping the balance.

In many publications these are scattered throughout, so I am looking for:

  • balancing factors, or pair of factors which need to be balanced
  • the implications of any imbalance
  • associated Controlling (or Pivotal) Factors

... with references from the Canon where these appear.

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This PDF could be a useful resource, specifically the following passages:

faith and wisdom are to be balanced so as to avoid blind belief and mere intellectual cleverness; effort and concentration are to be balanced to avoid mental restlessness and sluggishness.

Mindfulness is the key factor that keeps all the other factors in balance and harmony

and

The three factors of investigation (dhamma,vicaya), effort (viriya) and zest (piti) counteract torpor.

The three factors of tranquillity (passaddhi), concentration (samādhi) and equanimity (upekkhā) counteract mental agitation.

Mindfulness (sati) keeps the two sets of factors in a harmonious balance.

Other than these areas I could find no references to balancing the 37 factors. Hopefully this is what you are looking for...

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  • Thanks. In the 37 factors there are 7 sets. I am looking for a summary including each of the sets. What you have pointed is one of the 7. Thanks for this. If you manage to locate the other 6 please add then. If somebody else does please add a new answer. – Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena Mar 23 '16 at 15:56
  • I'll keep looking, but I think that the idea of balancing does not apply to all the sets. – hellyale Mar 23 '16 at 16:04
  • Take a look at the PDF, in the meantime I'll see if I can find another resource. – hellyale Mar 23 '16 at 16:05
  • I know this applies to some of the sets only so in which case what does it apply to and which it does not apply to. So what I have found so far is 5 Powers, 5 Faculties and 7 Enlightenment factors. I am trying to ascertain if these are the only factors or not. Also please keep searching. Also thanks very much for your efforts. – Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena Mar 23 '16 at 16:30
  • Also another personal notion I have is in the 8 fold path is each sub division of morality, concentration and wisdom has balancing factor also. I have not still found any source to confirm my hunch on this. – Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena Mar 23 '16 at 17:04

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