Buddha at Peace

Mahā Satipaṭṭhāna  Sutta

​Selections

In my discussion of the Satipatthana Sutta,  I quoted some seven passages, in short.  The full passages are far too long and cumbersome for my discussion.  I provide the full passages here for your reference. Full passages like these were traditionally recited by the monks,  as a chanting meditation.  In the Buddha’s day,  Pali was the spoken language of the common people.  Pali is a less melodious accent or dialect of Sanskrit.  Theravadan Buddhist scripture is written in Pali,  not Sanskrit.
 
These verses of the Satipatthana Sutta come from www.tipitaka.org/   The version on https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Satipatthana/Satipatthana-01.htm   is easier to read.  These verses use the same spelling and pronunciation as –
http://www.mantra-translate.org/pronouncing-the-sanskrit.html
 

Preliminaries Needed for Meditation.
From  Uddeso = Introduction
 
The Quoted Text
This Sutta first advises us to –

• Overcome and set aside covetousness and grief (craving and aversion) = abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.  Have  clear comprehension and awareness = sampajāno satimā.    These are also translated as -
• Put aside greed and distress = abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.   Be ardent, alert, & mindful = sampajāno satimā.

 
The meaning of the full text is explained by my discussion,  so I will move this introductory passage to the end of this webpage.

​​kāyānupassanā = Observing the Body.

Ānāpāna = Respiration.
 
The Quoted Text.
assa-santo                ‘assa-sāmī’               ti pajā-nāti,
breathing in             ‘breathing in’           know,
When breathing in, know “I am breathing in”,
passa-santo             ‘passa-sāmī’            ti pajā-nāti.        
breathing out          ‘breathing out’        know.
When breathing out, know “I am breathing out”.
 
The Full Text.
Dīghaṃ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṃ assasāmī’ ti pajānāti,      (long breath)
 dīghaṃ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṃ passasāmī’ ti pajānāti.  (long breath)
Rassaṃ vā assasanto ‘rassaṃ assasāmī’ ti pajānāti,       (short breath)
 rassaṃ vā passasanto ‘rassaṃ passasāmī’ ti pajānāti.   (short breath)
 
The Quoted Text
‘Sabba     kaya    paṭi         saṃvedī        assa-sissāmī’           ti sikkhati,
whole      body    feel          breath           breathe in                 train
Train yourself to feel the whole breath body (the whole breath cycle) when breathing in.  And likewise for breathing out. 
 
The Full Text.
‘Sabba-kāya-paṭi-saṃvedī assa-sissāmī’ ti sikkhati,   (breathing in)
‘sabba-kāya-paṭi-saṃvedī passa-sissāmī’ ti sikkhati.  (breathing out)
 

Iriyāpatha  = Postures of the Body
 
The Quoted Text.
gacchanto vā     ‘gacchāmī’    ti pajā-nāti,                   
walking               ‘walking’           know
When walking, know  “I am walking”.
 
This is repeated for standing, sitting and lying down,  the “four postures” of the body, in Buddhism. 
 
The Full Text.
gacchanto vā ‘gacchāmī’ ti pajānāti,   (when walking)
ṭhito vā ‘ṭhitomhī’              ti pajānāti,   (when standing)
nisinno vā ‘nisinnomhī’    ti pajānāti,  (when sitting)
 sayāno vā ‘sayānomhī’   ti pajānāti.   (when lying down)
 
Sam-pajāna = fully developed pajānāti = fully developed knowing.
 
The Quoted Text.
abhi-kkante             paṭi-kkante     sam-    pajāna-       kārī            hoti,                
going forward         coming back    fully      attend to    continually
When going out and coming back,  attend to the movement fully and continually.
 
The Full Text.
abhi-kkante paṭi-kkante              sampajānakārī hoti,  (forwards and backwards)
 ālokite vilokite                                sampajānakārī hoti,  (looking either side)
samiñjite pasārite                          sampajānakārī hoti,  (bending & stretching)
saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇe     sampajānakārī hoti,   (wearing uniform)
 asite pīte khāyite sāyite              sampajānakārī hoti,   (eating, drinking)
uccārapassāvakamme                 sampajānakārī hoti,   (calls of Nature)
gate ṭhite nisinne sutte jāgarite bhāsite tuṇhībhāve sampajānakārī hoti.
                   (walking, standing, sitting, sleeping or waking, speaking or in silence)
 

vedan-ānupassanā  = Observing Feelings.

The Quoted Text.
vedanaṃ      vedaya-        māno,                       
feeling           felt                  in mind,
‘vedanaṃ     vedayāmī’                ti pajānāti.
feeling           is experienced”       know and discern.
When feeling is felt in the mind,  then know and discern : “feeling is being experienced”. 
 
The Full Text.
sukhaṃ vā vedanaṃ vedayamāno                                           (the pleasing)
      ‘sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti;
dukkhaṃ vā vedanaṃ vedayamāno                                        (the not pleasing)
      ‘dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti;
adukkham-asukhaṃ vā vedanaṃ vedayamāno                   (the neutral)
      ‘adukkham-asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti.
Sāmisaṃ vā sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno             (pleasing, but attached)
     ‘sāmisaṃ sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti;
nirāmisaṃ vā sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno          (pleasing and unattached)
      ‘nirāmisaṃ sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti.
Sāmisaṃ vā dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno          (not pleasing, and attached)
      ‘sāmisaṃ dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti;
 nirāmisaṃ vā dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno      (not pleasing, unattached)
      ‘nirāmisaṃ dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti.
Sāmisaṃ vā adukkham-asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno   (neutral, attached)
     ‘sāmisaṃ adukkham-asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti;
 nirāmisaṃ vā adukkham-asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno  
     ‘nirāmisaṃ adukkham-asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ ti pajānāti.
                                                                                    (neutral, and not attached)
 

chitt-ānupassanā  = Observing Thoughts.

The Quoted Text.
sa-                  rāgaṃ vā      cittaṃ
present          defiled           thought,
When defiled thought is present,  (then)
‘sa-                 rāgaṃ           cittaṃ’           ti pajānāti,
‘present        defiled           thought         know, discern.
know and discern :  “defiled thought is present’.
 
vīta-               rāgaṃ           vā cittaṃ
absent           defiled           thought,
When defiled thought is absent,  (then)
‘vīta-              rāgaṃ           cittaṃ’           ti pajānāti
‘absent          defiled           thought’        know, discern.
know and discern : ‘defiled thought is absent’. 
 
The Full Text.
sa-rāgaṃ vā cittaṃ           ‘sa-rāgaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,       (with defilement)
vīta-rāgaṃ vā cittaṃ        ‘vīta-rāgaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,   (no defilement)
sa-dosaṃ vā cittaṃ           ‘sa-dosaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,       (with defilement)
vīta-dosaṃ vā cittaṃ        ‘vīta-dosaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,    (no defilement)
sa-mohaṃ vā cittaṃ         ‘sa-mohaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,     (with defilement)
vīta-mohaṃ vā cittaṃ      ‘vīta-mohaṃ cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,  (no defilement)
 
(note the 3 words commonly used in Buddhism for defilement : raga, dosa, moha)
 

 
The Quoted Text
saṅkhittaṃ vā         cittaṃ,           ‘saṅkhittaṃ cittaṃ’           ti pajānāti   
collected                   mind              collected       mind              know, discern
When the mind is collected,  know and discern “the mind is collected”.
 
vikkhittaṃ vā          cittaṃ            ‘vikkhittaṃ   cittaṃ’           ti pajānāti,
scattered                  mind              scattered      mind              know, discern
When the mind is scattered,  know and discern “the mind is scattered”.
 
The Full Text.
 saṅkhittaṃ vā        cittaṃ ‘saṅ-khittaṃ       cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,   (collected)
vikkhittaṃ vā          cittaṃ ‘vik-khittaṃ      cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,   (scattered)
 mahaggataṃ vā   cittaṃ ‘mahag-gataṃ   cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,   (expanded)
 amahaggataṃ vā cittaṃ ‘amahag-gataṃ  cittaṃ’ti pajānāti,   (unexpanded)
sa-uttaraṃ vā         cittaṃ ‘sa-uttaraṃ         cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,   (surpassed)
anuttaraṃ vā          cittaṃ ‘anuttaraṃ         cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,    (unsurpassed)
 samāhitaṃ vā        cittaṃ ‘samā-hitaṃ       cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,    (concentrated)
asamāhitaṃ vā       cittaṃ ‘asamā-hitaṃ    cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti, (unconcentrated)
vimuttaṃ vā            cittaṃ ‘vimuttaṃ          cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti,      (freed)
avimuttaṃ vā         cittaṃ ‘avimuttaṃ        cittaṃ’ ti pajānāti.      (not freed)

dhamm-ānupassanā  =  Attention to Dharma.

 
Bojjhaṅga-pabbaṃ  =  The Section on the Factors of Enlightenment
The Quoted Text.
Our Sutta advises us to -

• know when the sam-bojjhaṅga are present,  and
• know how to help them arise,  and
• know how to perfect them. 

 
The Full Text. 
Here is the full text for sati = awareness,  which is one of the sam-bojjhaṅga = fully developed Factor of Enlightenment,  or spiritual Quality.
 
santaṃ vā    ajjhattaṃ                sati-sam-bojjhaṅgaṃ,
present         within                                spiritual Quality         
When the sam-bojjhaṅga  of sati  is present within, (then)
 
 ‘atthi me      ajjhattaṃ     sati-sam-bojjhaṅgo’   ti pajānāti.
‘in       me      within                    spiritual Quality’  is known
know that : "within me is  sati sam-bojjhaṅga,’ 
 
 asantaṃ vā ajjhattaṃ sati-sam-bojjhaṅgaṃ,
absent           within                 spiritual Quality 
When the sam-bojjhaṅga  of sati  is absent within, (then)
 
‘natthi me  ajjhattaṃ  sati-sam-bojjhaṅgo’     ti pajānāti.
‘not in me  within                  spiritual Quality’   is  known
know that  : "not in me is  sati sam-bojjhaṅga."
 
yathā ca anuppannassa sati-sambojjhaṅgassa uppādo hoti taṃ ca pajānāti
                 non-arisen                 spiritual Quality     arise                             know
Know how to assist the non-arisen sati sam-bojjhaṅga  to arise. 
 
yathā ca uppannassa sati-sambojjhaṅgassa bhāvanāya pāripūrī
                 arisen                      spiritual Quality    cultivate     fully
hoti taṃ ca pajānāti.
Know how to develop fully the arisen sati sam-bojjhaṅga.
 
The same formula is repeated in the Sutta for each of the 7 words traditionally used for sambojjhaṅgaṃ  or spiritual Quality.
 
sati                 dhamma-vicaya         vīriya      pīti         passaddhi  
awareness   investigate Dharma    energy    joy         tranquility   
                                                                                                               
samādhi                    upekkhā
concentrated           equanimity
meditation
 
 
Nīvaraṇa  = hindrances
Quoted Text.

• know when defilements are active in us, and
• know how defilements arise, and
• know how to let go and transcend defilements,  and
• know how to avoid them in future. 

 
Full Text
 
Idha,   bhikkhave,         bhikkhu          :
Here,  practitioners,  a practitioner  :
 
santaṃ vā ajjhattaṃ         kāmacchandaṃ
present     within                is defilement
‘atthi me ajjhattaṃ            kāmacchando’ ti     pajānāti,
‘in       me within                 is defilement’          know,
When defilement is present within,  then know this -
: “defilement is within me.”
 
asantaṃ vā ajjhattaṃ       kāmacchandaṃ
absent           within            is defilement
 ‘natthi me   ajjhattaṃ      kāmacchando’ ti     pajānāti,
‘not in   me   within            is defilement’          know
When defilement is absent within,  then know this -
: “defilement is not within me.”
 
 yathā ca  an-uppannassa  kāma-cchandassa  uppādo,  hoti taṃ ca   pajānāti,
when          non arisen           defilement                arises,    to be this       know,
When non arisen defilement arises,  know this to be.
 
 yathā ca  uppannassa  kāma-cchandassa  pahānaṃ  hoti taṃ ca  pajānāti,
when          arisen             defilement               let go of     to be this         know,
when arisen defilement is let go of,  know this to be.
 
yathā ca pahīnassa kāma-cchandassa āyatiṃ anuppādo hoti taṃ ca pajānāti.
when       ceased           defilement           avoid     not arise  to be this       know.
when ceased defilement is avoided,  know this to be.
 
This same text is repeated in the Sutta,  for each of the five words traditionally used for nīvaraṇa -
 
kāma-chanda  byāpāda   thina-middha       uddhacca-kukkucca   vicikiccha 
sense desire     aversion   sloth and torpor   agitation and worry    doubt.    

​Preliminaries Needed for Meditation.

from  Uddeso = Introduction

The Quoted Text
​
This Sutta first advises us to –

• Overcome and set aside covetousness and grief (craving and aversion) = abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.  Have  clear comprehension and awareness = sampajāno satimā.    These are also translated as -
• Put aside greed and distress = abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.   Be ardent, alert, & mindful = sampajāno satimā.

 
 
The Full Text.

kāye  kāy-ānupassī                        viharati  ātāpī  sampajāno satimā,
     vineyya  loke  abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.
vedanāsu   vedan- ānupassī        viharati  ātāpī  sampajāno  satimā,
     vineyya  loke  abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.
citte  citt-  ānupassī                       viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
     vineyya  loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.
dhammesu dhamm-  ānupassī   viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
     vineyya  loke  abhijjhā-domanassaṃ.
 
viharati          ātāpī                         sampajāno                           satimā,
dwell with    determination,        clear comprehension,       awareness,
vineyya         loke                abhijjhā        -domanassaṃ.
set aside        in this field   greed             distress.
 
citte                citt-                 ānupassī       viharati,
in mind          thought         be aware      remain
“Remain observing thoughts in mind” 
 
Putting these two together,  we get the following interpretation –

• To remain aware  of the thoughts that are in our mind, we need determination, clear comprehension, and awareness.  We also need to set aside defilements,  (that will arise) in this field of practice.

I am translating viharati to convey this kind of meaning –

• “continue and stay with this practice,  and make this your abiding or dwelling place”