Preamble

Thus have I heard note1. The Bhagava note2 was at one time residing at the market-town called Kammasadhamma in the Kuru country note3. There the Bhagava addressed the bhikkhus note4 saying "O, Bhikkhus", and they replied to him, "Bhadante," note5 . Then the Bhagava said:

Bhikkhus, this is the one and the only way note6 for the purification (of the minds) of beings, for overcoming sorrow and lamentation, for the cessation note7 of physical and mental pain note8 , for attainment of the Noble Paths note9 . and for the realization of Nibbana note10. That (only way) is the four satipatthanas note11.

What are these four? note12 Here (in this teaching), bhikkhus, a bhikkhu (i.e. a disciple) dwells perceiving again and again the body (kaya) note13 as just the body note14 (not mine, not I, not self, but just a phenomenon) with diligence, note15 clear understanding, note16 and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and mental pain in the world;note17 he dwells perceiving again and again feelings (vedana) note18 as just feelings (not mine, not I, not self but just as phenomena) with diligence, clear understanding, and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and mental pain in the world; he dwells perceiving again and again the mind (citta) note19 as just the mind (not mine, not I, not self but just a phenomenon) with diligence, clear understanding, and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and mental pain in the world; he dwells perceiving again and again dhammas note20 as just dhammas (not mine, not I, not self but just as phenomena) with diligence, clear understanding, and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and mental pain in the world.