Uddeso: Introduction

Evaṁ me sutaṁ: / Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā / kurūsu viharati, kammāssadammaṁ nāma kurūnaṁ nigamo./ Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi,/ bhikkhavo’ti. / Bhadante’ti te bhikkhu bhagavato paccassosuṁ./ Bhagavā etadavoca:/

“Thus have I heard. On one occasion • the Blessed One was living in the Kuru country, • in the town of Kammāsadamma of Kuru people.“There the Blessed One addressed the monks saying, “Monks.” “Bhante,” the monks replied to the Blessed One. • Then the Blessed One said this:

Ekāyano ayaṁ bhikkhave maggo,/ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā,/ sokapariddavānaṁ samatikkamāya,/ dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya,/ ñāyassa adhigamāya,/ nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya./ Yadidaṁ cattāro satipaṭṭhānā./ Katame cattāro?/

“Monks, this is the one and only path • for the purification of beings, • for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, • for the disappearance of pain and grief, • for the attainment of the higher knowledge, • and for the realization of Nibbāna. “Namely, the four establishments of mindfulness. What are the four?

Idha bhikkhave, bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ātāpī, sampajāno, satimā,/ vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ./

Here, monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body, • dedicated, fully aware, and mindful, • having put away greed and grief for the world.

Vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati,/ ātāpī, sampajāno, satimā,/ vineyya loke abhijjhā domanassaṁ./

“He dwells contemplating the feelings in feelings, • dedicated, fully aware, and mindful, • having put away greed and grief for the world.

Citte cittānupassī viharati,/ ātāpī, sampajāno, satimā,/ vineyya loke abhijjhā domanassaṁ./

“He dwells contemplating the mind in mind, • dedicated, fully aware, and mindful, • having put away greed and grief for the world.

Dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati,/ ātāpī, sampajāno, satimā,/ vineyya loke abhijjhā domanassaṁ./

“He dwells contemplating the phenomena in phenomena, • dedicated, fully aware, and mindful, • having put away greed and grief for the world.

• Uddeso: Introduction
• 1. Kāyānupassanā: The Observation of Body
• 1.1 Ānāpāna Pabbaṁ: Section on Breathing
• 1.2. Iriyāpatha Pabbaṁ: Section on Postures
• 1.3 Sampajañña Pabbaṁ: Section on Clear Comprehension
• 1.4 Paṭikūlamanasikāra Pabbaṁ: Section on Repulsiveness
• 1.5 Dhātumanasikāra Pabbaṁ: Reflections on the Elements
• 1.6 Navasīvathika Pabbaṁ: Nine Charnel-Ground Contemplations
• 2. Vedanānupassanā: Contemplation of Feeling
• 3. Cittānupassanā: Contemplation of Mind
• 4. Dhammānupassanā: Contemplation of Phenomena
• 4.1 Nīvaraṇa Pabbaṁ: Section on the Hindrances
• 4.2 Khandha Pabbaṁ: Section on the Aggregates
• 4.3 Āyatana Pabbaṁ: Section on the Sense Bases
• 4.4 Bojjhanga Pabbaṁ: Section on the Factors of Enlightenment
• 4.5 Sacca Pabbaṁ: Section on the Four Noble Truths
• Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvanānisaṁso: The Results of the Establishing of Mindfulness

The complete translation of the Maha Satipatthana Sutta can be found in in this book. The special feature of this book is that the many beautiful repetitions that help us understand each section have been carefully included so it is the perfect text for chanting. As well, the Pali and English has been marked with pauses so groups can easily chant in harmony.

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