sn.47.5 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

A Heap of the Unskillful

At Sāvatthī.
There the Buddha said:
“Rightly speaking, mendicants, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.
For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.
What five?
The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.
Rightly speaking, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.
For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.
Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.
For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.
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.
They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
They meditate observing an aspect of the mind …
They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.
For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.”