Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
47. Satipaṭṭhana Saṁyutta
5. Amata-Vagga

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

Chapter V: The Deathless

Sutta 41

Amata Suttaṁ

The Deathless

 

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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, do ye dwell with mind well established in the four stations of mindfulness.

But let not that be to you the Deathless.¹|| ||

In 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.

Monks, do ye dwell with mind well established in the four stations of mindfulness.

But let not that be to you the Deathless.

 

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¹ I.e., do not confuse the means with the end. Cf. Pts. of Controversy, 104 n.: 'The Andhakas (and others) held the opinion that the objects of mindfulness (namely, the body, etc.) were themselves (the conscious subject) mindfulness. (This they deduced from this passage.)'