Freedom From Death · SN 47.41–47.50

SN 47.41 · Freedom From Death

SN 47.41 · Amatasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Mendicants, you should meditate with your mind firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. Don’t let freedom from death be lost on you. What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. You should meditate with your mind firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. Don’t let freedom from death be lost on you.”

“Catūsu, bhikkhave, satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittā viharatha. Mā vo amataṁ panassa. Katamesu catūsu? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Imesu, bhikkhave, catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittā viharatha. Mā vo amataṁ panassā”ti.

SN 47.42 · Origin

SN 47.42 · Samudayasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you the origin and disappearance of the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. Listen …

“Catunnaṁ, bhikkhave, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha.

What is the origin of the body? The body originates from fuel. When fuel ceases, the body disappears.

Ko ca, bhikkhave, kāyassa samudayo? Āhārasamudayā kāyassa samudayo; āhāranirodhā kāyassa atthaṅgamo.

Feelings originate from contact. When contact ceases, feelings disappear.

Phassasamudayā vedanānaṁ samudayo; phassanirodhā vedanānaṁ atthaṅgamo.

The mind originates from name and form. When name and form cease, the mind disappears.

Nāmarūpasamudayā cittassa samudayo; nāmarūpanirodhā cittassa atthaṅgamo.

Principles originate from application of mind. When application of mind disappears, principles disappear.”

Manasikārasamudayā dhammānaṁ samudayo; manasikāranirodhā dhammānaṁ atthaṅgamo”ti.

SN 47.43 · The Path

SN 47.43 · Maggasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, this one time, when I was first awakened, I was staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River. As I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “ekamidāhaṁ, bhikkhave, samayaṁ uruvelāyaṁ viharāmi najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhe paṭhamābhisambuddho. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘ekāyanvāyaṁ maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

What four? A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Or they’d meditate observing an aspect of feelings … or mind … or principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.’

Katame cattāro? Kāye vā bhikkhu kāyānupassī vihareyya ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu vā bhikkhu vedanānupassī vihareyya …pe… citte vā bhikkhu cittānupassī vihareyya …pe… dhammesu vā bhikkhu dhammānupassī vihareyya ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Ekāyanvāyaṁ maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā’ti.

And then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward me, and said: ‘That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One! Sir, the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati mama cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito mama purato pāturahosi. Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yenāhaṁ tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā maṁ etadavoca: ‘evametaṁ, bhagavā, evametaṁ, sugata. Ekāyanvāyaṁ, bhante, maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

What four? A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Or they’d meditate observing an aspect of feelings … or mind … or principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.’

Katame cattāro? Kāye vā, bhante, bhikkhu kāyānupassī vihareyya ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu vā …pe… citte vā …pe… dhammesu vā, bhante, bhikkhu dhammānupassī vihareyya ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Ekāyanvāyaṁ, bhante, maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā’ti.

That is what the divinity Sahampati said. Then he went on to say:

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati. Idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:

‘The compassionate one, <j>who sees the ending of rebirth,understands the path to convergence.By this path people crossed over before,will cross over, and are crossing over.’”

‘Ekāyanaṁ jātikhayantadassī,Maggaṁ pajānāti hitānukampī;Etena maggena tariṁsu pubbe,Tarissanti ye ca taranti oghan’”ti.

SN 47.44 · Mindful

SN 47.44 · Satisutta

“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindfully. This is my instruction to you.

“Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.

And how is a mendicant mindful? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. That’s how a mendicant is mindful. A mendicant should live mindfully. This is my instruction to you.”

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti. Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

SN 47.45 · A Heap of the Skillful

SN 47.45 · Kusalarāsisutta

“Rightly speaking, mendicants, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’. For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.

“‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’. For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.”

‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā”ti.

SN 47.46 · Restraint in the Monastic Code

SN 47.46 · Pātimokkhasaṁvarasutta

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Well then, mendicant, you should purify the starting point of skillful qualities. What is the starting point of skillful qualities? Live restrained in the monastic code, conducting yourself well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, keep the rules you’ve undertaken. When you’ve done this, you should develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, depending on and grounded on ethics.

“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, ādimeva visodhehi kusalesu dhammesu. Ko cādi kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ? Idha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharāhi ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhassu sikkhāpadesu. Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissasi ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī samādāya sikkhassu sikkhāpadesu; tato tvaṁ, bhikkhu, sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro satipaṭṭhāne bhāveyyāsi.

What four? Meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Katame cattāro? Idha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, kāye kāyānupassī viharāhi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāhi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

When you develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation in this way, depending on and grounded on ethics, you can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.”

Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne evaṁ bhāvessasi, tato tuyhaṁ, bhikkhu, yā ratti vā divaso vā āgamissati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihānī”ti.

And then that mendicant approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then that mendicant, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Atha kho so bhikkhu eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And that mendicant became one of the perfected.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

SN 47.47 · Bad Conduct

SN 47.47 · Duccaritasutta

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said:

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe…

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Well then, mendicant, you should purify the starting point of skillful qualities. What is the beginning of skillful qualities? Give up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind and develop good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. When you’ve done this, you should develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, depending on and grounded on ethics.

“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, ādimeva visodhehi kusalesu dhammesu. Ko cādi kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ? Idha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, kāyaduccaritaṁ pahāya kāyasucaritaṁ bhāvessasi. Vacīduccaritaṁ pahāya vacīsucaritaṁ bhāvessasi. Manoduccaritaṁ pahāya manosucaritaṁ bhāvessasi. Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, kāyaduccaritaṁ pahāya kāyasucaritaṁ bhāvessasi, vacīduccaritaṁ pahāya vacīsucaritaṁ bhāvessasi, manoduccaritaṁ pahāya manosucaritaṁ bhāvessasi, tato tvaṁ, bhikkhu, sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro satipaṭṭhāne bhāveyyāsi.

What four? Meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. When you develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation in this way, depending on and grounded on ethics, you can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.” …

Katame cattāro? Idha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, kāye kāyānupassī viharāhi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāhi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne evaṁ bhāvessasi, tato tuyhaṁ, bhikkhu, yā ratti vā divaso vā āgamissati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihānī”ti …pe…

And that mendicant became one of the perfected.

aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

SN 47.48 · Friends

SN 47.48 · Mittasutta

“Mendicants, those for whom you have sympathy, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in the development of the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

“Ye, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca kho sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā, te vo, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvanāya samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā.

What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Katamesaṁ, catunnaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

Those for whom you have sympathy, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in the development of the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.”

Ye, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā, te vo, bhikkhave, imesaṁ catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvanāya samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

SN 47.49 · Feelings

SN 47.49 · Vedanāsutta

“Mendicants, there are these three feelings. What three? Pleasant, painful, and neutral feeling. These are the three feelings. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation should be developed to completely understand these three feelings.

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, vedanā. Katamā tisso? Sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā— imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso vedanā. Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ vedanānaṁ pariññāya cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvetabbā.

What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

These four kinds of mindfulness meditation should be developed to completely understand these three feelings.”

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ vedanānaṁ pariññāya ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvetabbā”ti.

SN 47.50 · Defilements

SN 47.50 · Āsavasutta

“Mendicants, there are these three defilements. What three? The defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. These are the three defilements.

“Tayome, bhikkhave āsavā. Katame tayo? Kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavo— ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo āsavā.

The four kinds of mindfulness meditation should be developed to give up these three defilements.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇannaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvetabbā.

What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

These four kinds of mindfulness meditation should be developed to give up these three defilements.”

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇannaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvetabbā”ti.