Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
47. Satipaṭṭhana Saṁyutta
4. Anussuta-Vagga

The Great Chapter,
47: Kindred Sayings on the Stations of Mindfulness
Chapter IV: Unheard Before

Sutta 34

Bhāvanā Suttaṁ

Cultivation

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, these four stations of mindfulness,
if cultivated
and made much of,
conduce to that state
in which no further shore
and no hither shore¹ exists.

What four?

Herein a monk abides in body contemplating body
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.

He dwells as regards feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.

He dwells as regards mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.

He dwells as regards mind-states contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.

"These four stations of mindfulness, monks,
if cultivated
and made much of,
conduce to downright revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to calm,
to full comprehension,
to perfect wisdom,
to Nibbāna.

"Monks, these four stations of mindfulness,
if cultivated
and made much of,
conduce to that state
in which no further shore
and no hither shore exists."

 

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¹ Cf. supra, text 24, a-pāra-apāra, which text here misprints as aparāparaṅ (backwards and forwards), as again Bk. vii, ad init and above, text 24, 81.