MINDFUL OF THE BODY

Mindful of the Body A STUDY GUIDE prepared by Thanissaro Bhikkhu Copyright copyright 2016 ṭhānissaro bhikkhu This work is licensed

I. THE CONTEXT “Monks, I lived in refinement, utmost refinement, total refinement. My father even had lotus ponds made in

II. MINDFULNESS IMMERSED IN THE BODY Kāyagatā-sati Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 119) I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed

III. THE ADVANTAGES OF MINDFULNESS IMMERSED IN THE BODY Khitaka: How light my body! Touched by abundant rapture & bliss,

IV. THE DISADVANTAGES OF ATTACHMENT TO THE BODY All too soon, this body will lie on the ground cast off,

V. SAMATHA / VIPASSANĀ “These two qualities have a share in clear knowing. Which two? Tranquility [samatha] & insight [vipassanā]. “When tranquility is

VI. MINDFULNESS / JHĀNA Visākha: “Now what is concentration, what qualities are its themes, what qualities are its requisites, and

VII. JHĀNA / DISCERNMENT There is   no jhāna for one with   no discernment, no discernment for one with   no jhāna. But one with   both

GLOSSARY Abhidhamma: The third of the three “baskets” or collections that comprise the Pali Canon, devoted to establishing the precise taxonomy