Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN47: Connected Discourses on the Establishments of Mindfulness

SN47:5 A Heap of the Wholesome

1At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, if one were to say of anything ‘a heap of the unwholesome,’ it is about the five hindrances that one could rightly say this. For this is a complete heap of the unwholesome, that is, the five hindrances. What five? sn.v.146 The hindrance of sensual desire, the hindrance of ill will, the hindrance of sloth and torpor, the hindrance of restlessness and remorse, the hindrance of doubt. If one were to say of anything ‘a heap of the unwholesome,’ it is about these five hindrances that one could rightly say this. For this is a complete heap of the unwholesome, that is, the five hindrances.

2"If, bhikkhus, one were to say of anything ‘a heap of the wholesome, ’ it is about the four establishments of mindfulness that one could rightly say this. For this is a complete heap of the wholesome, that is, the four establishments of mindfulness. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. [n.129] Interestingly, the first section of the contemplation of phenomena deals with the five hindrances, showing how the application of mindfulness can turn even defilements into the raw material for the development of the practice. If one were to say of anything ‘a heap of the wholesome, ’ it is about these four establishments of mindfulness that one could rightly say this. For this is a complete heap of the wholesome, that is, the four establishments of mindfulness."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tatra kho bhagavā etadavoca: "‘akusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno pañca nīvaraṇe sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, akusalarāsi, yadidaṁ – pañca nīvaraṇā. Katame pañca? Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ, byā pāda nīvaraṇaṁ, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Akusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno ime pañca nīvaraṇe sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, akusalarāsi, yadidaṁ – pañca nīvaraṇā.

2‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ – cattāro satipaṭṭhānā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī vihārati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu … pe … citte … pe … dhammesu dhammānupassī vihārati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. ‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya. Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ – cattāro satipaṭṭhānā"ti.


Pañcamaṁ.

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