The Path
At Savatthi. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:
“Bhikkhus, on one occasion I was dwelling at Uruvela on the bank of the river Nerañjara under the Goatherd’s Banyan Tree just after I became fully enlightened. Then, while I was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in my mind thus: ‘This is the one-way path for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation … as in §18 … that is, the four establishments of mindfulness.’
“Then, bhikkhus, Brahma Sahampati, having known with his own mind the reflection in my mind, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, disappeared from the brahma world and reappeared before me. He arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, extended his joined hands towards me in reverential salutation, and said to me: ‘So it is, Blessed One! So it is, Fortunate One! Venerable sir, this is the one-way path for the purification of beings … … that is, the four establishments of mindfulness.’
“This, bhikkhus, is what Brahma Sahampati said. Having said this, he further said this:
“‘The seer of the destruction of birth,
Compassionate, knows the one-way path
By which in the past they crossed the flood,
By which they will cross and cross over now.’”
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
The Path
At Sāvatthī.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, at one time, when I was first awakened, I was staying near Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
As I was in private retreat this thought came to mind:
‘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 end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.
What four?
A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Or they’d meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
or mind …
or principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
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 end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.’
And then Brahmā Sahampati, knowing what I was thinking, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in front of me.
He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said:
‘That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One!
Sir, 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 end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.
What four?
A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Or they’d meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
or mind …
or principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
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 end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.’
That’s what Brahmā Sahampati said.
Then he went on to say:
‘The compassionate one, who sees the ending of rebirth,
understands the path to convergence.
By this path people crossed over before,
will cross over, and are crossing over.’”
