SA 813（八一三） 金毘罗

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Jīvaka Mango Grove in the village of Jīvakas.

At that time the World-Honored One said to Venerable Jīvaka, "I will now explain the diligent cultivation of the four foundations of mindfulness. Listen carefully and consider it well, I will explain it to you." At that time Venerable Jīvaka remained silent, like this three times.

At that time Venerable Ānanda said to Venerable Jīvaka, "Now the World-Honored One is calling you!" He said this three times.

Venerable Jīvaka said to Venerable Ānanda, "I already know, Venerable Ānanda! I already know, Venerable Gautama!"

At that time Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Now is the time! Well-Gone One! Please teach the bhikṣus to diligently cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness. Having heard it, the bhikṣus will accept and uphold it."

The Buddha told Ānanda, "Listen carefully and think well, I will explain it to you. When a bhikṣu is mindful of inhalation, he should practice as if inhaling; and so on, up to when he is mindful of exhalation, he should practice as if exhaling. At that time, the noble disciple, when mindful of inhalation, practices as if mindful of inhalation; and so on, up to when the body is at rest and exhaling, he practices as if the body is at rest and exhaling. At that time, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness of the body observing the body. At that time, the noble disciple, having abided in mindfulness of the body observing the body, knows and skillfully contemplates within."

The Buddha told Ānanda, "Suppose someone is riding in a cart or carriage coming from the east, would they trample on the mounds of earth along the way?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "In this way, when the noble disciple is mindful of inhalation, they learn as they are mindful of inhalation. In this way, up to skillfully contemplating internally. At that time, the noble disciple is aware of joy, and up to being aware of mental activities and learning to stop the breath. The noble disciple observes and contemplates feelings, and abides in mindfulness. Having observed and contemplated feelings, the noble disciple knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. Suppose someone is riding in a cart or carriage coming from the south, would they trample on the mounds of earth along the way?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating feelings, and knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. If the noble disciple is aware of the mind, a joyful mind, a concentrated mind, and a liberated mind, they learn to inhale as they would inhale with a liberated mind, and exhale as they would exhale with a liberated mind. At that time, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating the mind. In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating the mind, and knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. Suppose someone is riding in a cart or carriage coming from the west, would they trample on the mounds of earth along the way?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "In this way, the noble disciple is aware of the mind, and so on, up to the mind being liberated, and learns to exhale as the mind would exhale when liberated. In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating the mind. In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating the mind, and knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. Ānanda, the noble disciple skillfully contemplates the body, feelings, and mind, and eliminates greed and sorrow. At that time, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating phenomena. In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating phenomena, and knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. Ānanda, suppose there is a mound of earth at a four-way intersection, and someone is riding in a cart or carriage coming from the north, would they trample on the mound of earth?"

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "In this way, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness, observing and contemplating phenomena, and knows this to be skillful contemplation internally. Ānanda, this is called a bhikṣu diligently practicing the four foundations of mindfulness."

Having spoken this sūtra, the Venerable Ānanda, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.