Buddhist discourse · selected excerpts · Early Buddhism · Pāli Canon
Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10) — selected excerpts
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Introduction and the four establishments
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kurūsu viharati kammāsadhammaṁ nāma kurūnaṁ nigamo.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kurus, near the Kuru town named Kammāsadamma.
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,
“bhikkhavo”ti.
“Mendicants!”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Venerable sir,” they replied.
Bhagavā etadavoca:
The Buddha said this:
“Ekāyano ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā, sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya, dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya, ñāyassa adhigamāya, nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.
“Mendicants, 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?
What four?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;
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.
vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;
They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.
citte cittānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;
They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.
dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.
Mindfulness of breathing
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of the body?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati, pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā, ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya, parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and brings mindfulness to the present.
So satova assasati, satova passasati.
Just mindful, they breathe in. Mindful, they breathe out.
Dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, dīghaṁ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti,
Breathing in heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ Breathing out heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’
rassaṁ vā assasanto ‘rassaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, rassaṁ vā passasanto ‘rassaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti.
Breathing in lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing in lightly.’ Breathing out lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing out lightly.’
‘Sabbakāyapaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘sabbakāyapaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the whole body.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the whole body.’
‘Passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling the physical process.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling the physical process.’
Inner and outer contemplation of the body
Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati;
And so they meditate observing an aspect of the body internally, externally, and both internally and externally.
samudayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati, vayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati, samudayavayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati.
They meditate observing, with respect to the body, the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish.
‘Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti. Yāvadeva ñāṇamattāya paṭissatimattāya anissito ca viharati, na ca kiñci loke upādiyati.
Or mindfulness is established that the body exists, to the extent necessary for knowledge and mindfulness. They meditate independent, not grasping at anything in the world.
Evampi kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati.
That’s how a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body.
Contemplating feelings
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of feelings?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhaṁ vā vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
It’s when a mendicant who feels a pleasant feeling knows: ‘I feel a pleasant feeling.’
Dukkhaṁ vā vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a painful feeling, they know: ‘I feel a painful feeling.’
Adukkhamasukhaṁ vā vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a neutral feeling, they know: ‘I feel a neutral feeling.’
Sāmisaṁ vā sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a pleasant feeling of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a pleasant feeling of the flesh.’
Nirāmisaṁ vā sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a pleasant feeling not of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a pleasant feeling not of the flesh.’
Sāmisaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṁ dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a painful feeling of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a painful feeling of the flesh.’
Nirāmisaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṁ dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a painful feeling not of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a painful feeling not of the flesh.’
Sāmisaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a neutral feeling of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a neutral feeling of the flesh.’
Nirāmisaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When they feel a neutral feeling not of the flesh, they know: ‘I feel a neutral feeling not of the flesh.’
Iti ajjhattaṁ vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati;
And so they meditate observing an aspect of feelings internally, externally, and both internally and externally.
samudayadhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati, vayadhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati, samudayavayadhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati.
With respect to feelings, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish.
‘Atthi vedanā’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti. Yāvadeva ñāṇamattāya paṭissatimattāya anissito ca viharati, na ca kiñci loke upādiyati.
Or mindfulness is established that feelings exist, to the extent necessary for knowledge and mindfulness. They meditate independent, not grasping at anything in the world.
Evampi kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati.
That’s how a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of feelings.
Contemplating the mind
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu citte cittānupassī viharati?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of the mind?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘sarāgaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
It’s when a mendicant understands mind with greed as ‘mind with greed,’
Vītarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vītarāgaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and mind without greed as ‘mind without greed.’
Sadosaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘sadosaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They understand mind with hate as ‘mind with hate,’
Vītadosaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vītadosaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and mind without hate as ‘mind without hate.’
Samohaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘samohaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They understand mind with delusion as ‘mind with delusion,’
Vītamohaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vītamohaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and mind without delusion as ‘mind without delusion.’
Saṅkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘saṅkhittaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They know constricted mind as ‘constricted mind,’
Vikkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vikkhittaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and scattered mind as ‘scattered mind.’
Mahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ ‘mahaggataṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They know expansive mind as ‘expansive mind,’
Amahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ ‘amahaggataṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and unexpansive mind as ‘unexpansive mind.’
Sauttaraṁ vā cittaṁ ‘sauttaraṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They know mind that is not supreme as ‘mind that is not supreme,’
Anuttaraṁ vā cittaṁ ‘anuttaraṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and mind that is supreme as ‘mind that is supreme.’
Samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘samāhitaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They know mind immersed in samādhi as ‘mind immersed in samādhi,’
Asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘asamāhitaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and mind not immersed in samādhi as ‘mind not immersed in samādhi.’
Vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vimuttaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They know freed mind as ‘freed mind,’
Avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘avimuttaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
and unfreed mind as ‘unfreed mind.’
Iti ajjhattaṁ vā citte cittānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā citte cittānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā citte cittānupassī viharati;
And so they meditate observing an aspect of the mind internally, externally, and both internally and externally.
samudayadhammānupassī vā cittasmiṁ viharati, vayadhammānupassī vā cittasmiṁ viharati, samudayavayadhammānupassī vā cittasmiṁ viharati.
With respect to the mind, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish.
‘Atthi cittan’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti. Yāvadeva ñāṇamattāya paṭissatimattāya anissito ca viharati, na ca kiñci loke upādiyati.
Or mindfulness is established that the mind exists, to the extent necessary for knowledge and mindfulness. They meditate independent, not grasping at anything in the world.
Evampi kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu citte cittānupassī viharati.
That’s how a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the mind.
The five hindrances
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of principles?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati pañcasu nīvaraṇesu.
It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of principles with respect to the five hindrances.
Kathañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati pañcasu nīvaraṇesu?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of principles with respect to the five hindrances?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ kāmacchandaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ kāmacchando’ti pajānāti, asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ kāmacchandaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ kāmacchando’ti pajānāti; yathā ca anuppannassa kāmacchandassa uppādo hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca uppannassa kāmacchandassa pahānaṁ hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca pahīnassa kāmacchandassa āyatiṁ anuppādo hoti tañca pajānāti.
It’s when a mendicant who has sensual desire in them understands: ‘I have sensual desire in me.’ When they don’t have sensual desire in them, they understand: ‘I don’t have sensual desire in me.’ They understand how sensual desire arises; how, when it’s already arisen, it’s given up; and how, once it’s given up, it doesn’t arise again in the future.
Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ byāpādaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ byāpādo’ti pajānāti, asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ byāpādaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ byāpādo’ti pajānāti; yathā ca anuppannassa byāpādassa uppādo hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca uppannassa byāpādassa pahānaṁ hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca pahīnassa byāpādassa āyatiṁ anuppādo hoti tañca pajānāti.
When they have ill will in them, they understand: ‘I have ill will in me.’ When they don’t have ill will in them, they understand: ‘I don’t have ill will in me.’ They understand how ill will arises; how, when it’s already arisen, it’s given up; and how, once it’s given up, it doesn’t arise again in the future.
Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ thinamiddhaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ thinamiddhan’ti pajānāti, asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ thinamiddhaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ thinamiddhan’ti pajānāti, yathā ca anuppannassa thinamiddhassa uppādo hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca uppannassa thinamiddhassa pahānaṁ hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca pahīnassa thinamiddhassa āyatiṁ anuppādo hoti tañca pajānāti.
When they have dullness and drowsiness in them, they understand: ‘I have dullness and drowsiness in me.’ When they don’t have dullness and drowsiness in them, they understand: ‘I don’t have dullness and drowsiness in me.’ They understand how dullness and drowsiness arise; how, when they’ve already arisen, they’re given up; and how, once they’re given up, they don’t arise again in the future.
Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ uddhaccakukkuccaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ uddhaccakukkuccan’ti pajānāti, asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ uddhaccakukkuccaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ uddhaccakukkuccan’ti pajānāti; yathā ca anuppannassa uddhaccakukkuccassa uppādo hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca uppannassa uddhaccakukkuccassa pahānaṁ hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca pahīnassa uddhaccakukkuccassa āyatiṁ anuppādo hoti tañca pajānāti.
When they have restlessness and remorse in them, they understand: ‘I have restlessness and remorse in me.’ When they don’t have restlessness and remorse in them, they understand: ‘I don’t have restlessness and remorse in me.’ They understand how restlessness and remorse arise; how, when they’ve already arisen, they’re given up; and how, once they’re given up, they don’t arise again in the future.
Santaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ vicikicchaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ vicikicchā’ti pajānāti, asantaṁ vā ajjhattaṁ vicikicchaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ vicikicchā’ti pajānāti; yathā ca anuppannāya vicikicchāya uppādo hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca uppannāya vicikicchāya pahānaṁ hoti tañca pajānāti, yathā ca pahīnāya vicikicchāya āyatiṁ anuppādo hoti tañca pajānāti.
When they have doubt in them, they understand: ‘I have doubt in me.’ When they don’t have doubt in them, they understand: ‘I don’t have doubt in me.’ They understand how doubt arises; how, when it’s already arisen, it’s given up; and how, once it’s given up, it doesn’t arise again in the future.
Iti ajjhattaṁ vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati;
And so they meditate observing an aspect of principles internally, externally, and both internally and externally.
samudayadhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati, vayadhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati, samudayavayadhammānupassī vā dhammesu viharati.
They meditate observing, with respect to the principles, the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish.
‘Atthi dhammā’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti. Yāvadeva ñāṇamattāya paṭissatimattāya anissito ca viharati, na ca kiñci loke upādiyati.
Or mindfulness is established that principles exist, to the extent necessary for knowledge and mindfulness. They meditate independent, not grasping at anything in the world.
Evampi kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati pañcasu nīvaraṇesu.
That’s how a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of principles with respect to the five hindrances.
The four noble truths
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati catūsu ariyasaccesu.
Furthermore, a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of principles with respect to the four noble truths.
Kathañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati catūsu ariyasaccesu?
And how does a mendicant meditate observing an aspect of principles with respect to the four noble truths?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.
It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.’
Conclusion
Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne evaṁ bhāveyya sattāhaṁ, tassa dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ
anyone who develops these four kinds of mindfulness meditation in this way for seven days can expect one of two results:
diṭṭheva dhamme aññā sati vā upādisese anāgāmitāti.
enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.
‘Ekāyano ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya yadidaṁ cattāro satipaṭṭhānā’ti.
‘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.’
Iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttan”ti.
That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”
Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.
Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.
Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.