007. Satipaṭṭhānavaggo –– The Section On Establishing Mindfulness

Aṅguttara Nikāya
007. Satipaṭṭhānavaggo –– The section on establishing mindfulness

1. Sikkhādubbalyasuttaṃ –– Weaknesses of the training

007.01. “Bhikkhus, these five are the weaknesses in the training. What five?

Destroying living things, taking the not given, sexual misbehaviour, telling lies and negligence, taking intoxicating and brewed drinks.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five weaknesses in the training, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five weaknesses these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

2. Nīvaraṇasuttaṃ –– Obstructions

007.02. Bhikkhus, these five are obstructions. What five?

The obstructions sensual interest, anger, sloth and torpor, restlessnes and worry and doubts. Bhikkhus, these five are obstructions.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five obstructions the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five obstructions, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

3. Kāmaguṇasuttaṃ –– The five strands of sensual pleasure

007.03. “Bhikkhus, these five are the strands of sensual pleasure. What five?

Agreeable, pleasant forms cognizable by eye consciousness, … re … sounds cognizable by ear consciousness, … re … scents cognizable by nose consciousness, … re … tastes cognizable by tongue consciousness … re … and touches cognizable by body consciousness, arousing fondness and sensual desires.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five strands of sensual pleasure, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five strands of sensual pleasure, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

4. Upādānakkhandhasuttaṃ –– The holding masses

007.04. “Bhikkhus, these five are the holding masses. What five?

The holding mass of matter, the holding mass of feelings, the holding mass of perceptions, the holding mass of deteminations and the holding mass of consciousness. Bhikkhus, these five are the holding masses.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five holding masses, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five holding masses, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

5. Orambhāgiyasuttaṃ –– Bonds binding to the sensual world

007.05. “Bhikkhus, these five are the bonds binding to the sensual world. What five?

The view about self, doubts, fixed to virtues and being pulled away from the right path, sensual interest and anger. Bhikkhus, these five are the bonds binding to the sensual world.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bonds binding to the sensual world, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bonds binding to the sensual world, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

6. Gatisuttaṃ –– Destinies

007.06. “Bhikkhus, these five are destinies. What five?

The hell, the animal world, the sphere of ghosts, humanity and godliness.

Bhikkhus, these five are destinies.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five destinies, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five destinies, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

7. Macchariyasuttaṃ –– Selfishnesses

007.07. Bhikkhus, these five are selfishnesses. What five?

Selfishness, for dwellings, for families, for gain, for beauty, and for the Teaching.

Bhikkhus, these five are selfishnesses.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five selfishnesses the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five selfishnesses, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

8. Uddhambhāgiyasuttaṃ –– Bonds of the higher order

007.08. “Bhikkhus, these five are the bonds of the higher order. What five?

Greed for matter, greed for immaterial states, conceit, over balancing attainments and ignorance.

Bhikkhus, these five are the bonds of the higher order.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bonds of the higher order, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bonds of the higher order, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

9. Cetokhilasuttaṃ –– Arrows pricked in the mind

007.09. “Bhikkhus, these five are arrows that prick the mind. What five?

Here the bhikkhu has doubts, is not settled, is not reassured about the Teacher. When the bhikkhu doubts, is not settled and is not reassured about the Teacher his mind does not tend to exert, apply, persevere and make endeavour. This is the first arrow that pricks the mind.

Again, the bhikkhu has doubts, is not settled, is not reassured about the Teaching, … re … the training, … re … angry and displeased with the co-associates in the holy life is hurt and has an arrow in the heart When the bhikkhu doubts, is not settled and is not reassured about the Teacher his mind does not tend to exert, apply, persevere and make endeavour. This is the fifth arrow that pricks the mind.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five arrows in the mind, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five arrows in the mind, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”

10. Cetasovinibandhasuttaṃ –– Bondages of the mind

007.10. “Bhikkhus, these five are bondages of the mind. What five?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is with undispelled greed, interest, love, thirst, wailing and craving for sensuality, as a result his mind does not tend to exert, to apply, to persevere and to make endeavour. This is the first bondage of the mind.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is with undispelled greed, interest, love, thirst, wailing and craving for the body, … re … for material, … re … eating as much as he could he abides enjoying the pleasure of sluggishness and sleep, … re … and leads the holy life aspiring to be born with a certain company of gods-: ‘By my virtues and austerities and leading a holy life, may I be born with that company of gods’ as a result his mind does not tend to exert, to apply, to persevere and to make endeavour. This is the fifth bondage of the mind.

Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bondages in the mind, the four establishments of mindfulness should be developed. What four?

Here, the bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting the body in the body to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world The bhikkhu abides mindful and aware reflecting feelings in feelings, … re … the mental states in the mind … re … and thoughts in the Teaching, to dispel covetousness and displeasure in the world. Bhikkhus, to dispel these five bondages in the mind, these four establishments of mindfulness should be developed.”