sn.47.38 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Full Understanding

“Bhikkhus, there are these four establishments of mindfulness. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. As he dwells thus contemplating the body in the body, the body is fully understood. Because the body has been fully understood, the Deathless is realized.

“He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena … having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. As he dwells thus contemplating phenomena in phenomena, the phenomena are fully understood. Because the phenomena have been fully understood, the Deathless is realized.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Complete Understanding

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of mindfulness meditation.
What four?
It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
As they do so they completely understand the body.
When the body is completely understood they realize the deathless.
They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
As they do so they completely understand feelings.
When feelings are completely understood they realize the deathless.
They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
As they do so they completely understand the mind.
When the mind is completely understood they realize the deathless.
They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
As they do so they completely understand principles.
When principles are completely understood they realize the deathless.”