Understanding and Practicing the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta

Abstract

The systematic cultivation of mindfulness is the topic of the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta of the Pāli canon, transmitted by the Theravāda tradition. Parallel versions to this discourse have been preserved in Chinese translation, stemming from textual transmission lineages maintained by other Buddhist traditions. These are a discourse from the Sarvāstivāda tradition and another discourse perhaps from the Mahāsāๅghika tradition, the affiliation in the second case being somewhat uncertain. The three discourse versions describe in detail the practice of the four establishments of mindfulness, satipaṭṭhāna, with some noteworthy differences in their presentations. In this chapter, I survey the instructions given in the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta, with an emphasis on their implications for actual meditation practice. At the same time, I note some of the differences found in the two parallels preserved in Chinese translation, whenever this appears opportune within the context of my main aim, which is to bring out the practical significance of satipaṭṭhāna meditation.

Abbreviations

DN:

Dīgha-nikāya

MN:

Majjhima-nikāya

T:

Taishō edition