True education has as its aim to awaken the student to him- or herself and to the world. We can find helpful guidance for accomplishing this in the Buddha’s teachings on the seven factors of enlightenment (joy, rest, concentration, curiosity, diligence, equanimity and mindfulness). In this article I discuss impediments to the realization of these factors that exist in current education. I then describe approaches based on mindfulness that I have used to address these obstacles and promote each of the factors of enlightenment in a secondary school setting. I include readings I give to students and student descriptions of their experiences with this educational approach.