Short teachings on the benefits of cultivating mindfulness of the body.

AN 1.575-615  Kāyagatāsati vagga - The Chapter on Mindfulness of the Body

1.575

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo cetasā phuṭo antogadhā tassa kunnadiyo kāci samuddaṅgamā; evamevaṁ, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatā sati bhāvitā bahulīkatā antogadhā tassa kusalā dhammā ye keci vijjābhāgiyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, for anyone who has encompassed the great ocean in their mind, all the streams flowing into it are included. Similarly, bhikkhus, for anyone who has cultivated and frequently practiced mindfulness of the body, all wholesome qualities that are part of the path to realization are included.”

1.576–582

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattatimahato atthāya saṁvattatimahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattatisatisampajaññāya saṁvattatiñāṇadassanappaṭilābhāya saṁvattatidiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya saṁvattativijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattatimahato atthāya saṁvattatimahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattatisatisampajaññāya saṁvattatiñāṇadassanappaṭilābhāya saṁvattatidiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya saṁvattativijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to great urgency ... great benefit ... great safety from bondage ... to mindfulness and clear awareness ... to the acquisition of wisdom and vision ... to blissful living in the present life ... to the realization of the fruit of wisdom and liberation. What is that one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to great urgency ... great benefit ... great safety from bondage ... to mindfulness and clear awareness ... to the acquisition of wisdom and vision ... to blissful living in the present life ... to the realization of the fruit of wisdom and liberation.”

1.583

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati, vitakkavicārāpi vūpasammanti, kevalāpi vijjābhāgiyā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati, vitakkavicārāpi vūpasammanti, kevalāpi vijjābhāgiyā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, both body and mind become peaceful, thought and examination settle down, and all qualities leading to realization reach full development. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, both body and mind become peaceful, thought and examination settle down, and all qualities leading to realization reach full development.”

1.584

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti, uppannā ca akusalā dhammā pahīyanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti, uppannā ca akusalā dhammā pahīyantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, unwholesome qualities do not arise, and if arisen, they are abandoned. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, unwholesome qualities do not arise, and if arisen, they are abandoned.”

1.585

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti, uppannā ca kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti, uppannā ca kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, wholesome qualities arise, and once arisen, they increase and expand. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, wholesome qualities arise, and once arisen, they increase and expand.”

1.586–590

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate avijjā pahīyativijjā uppajjatiasmimāno pahīyatianusayā samugghātaṁ gacchantisaṁyojanā pahīyanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate avijjā pahīyativijjā uppajjatiasmimāno pahīyatianusayā samugghātaṁ gacchantisaṁyojanā pahīyantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, ignorance is abandoned ... wisdom arises ... the conceit ‘I am’ is abandoned ... underlying tendencies are eradicated ... fetters are abandoned. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, ignorance is abandoned ... wisdom arises ... the conceit ‘I am’ is abandoned ... underlying tendencies are eradicated ... fetters are abandoned.”

1.591–592

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpabhedāya saṁvattatianupādāparinibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpabhedāya saṁvattatianupādāparinibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the breakthrough to wisdom ... to extinction without |clinging::grasping, acquiring, appropriating, taking possession, identifying; fuel for fire; lit. taking near [upādāna]|. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the breakthrough to wisdom ... to extinction without clinging.”

1.593–595

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anekadhātupaṭivedho hotinānādhātupaṭivedho hotianekadhātupaṭisambhidā hoti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anekadhātupaṭivedho hotinānādhātupaṭivedho hotianekadhātupaṭisambhidā hotī”ti.

“When one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, there is the penetration of many elements ... the penetration of various elements ... the discrimination of many elements. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, there is the penetration of many elements ... the penetration of various elements ... the discrimination of many elements.”

1.596–599

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatisakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatianāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatiarahattaphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatisakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatianāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatiarahattaphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the realization of the fruit of stream-entry ... once-returner ... non-returner ... arahantship. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the realization of the fruit of stream-entry ... once-returner ... non-returner ... arahantship.”

1.600–615

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpaṭilābhāya saṁvattatipaññāvuddhiyā saṁvattatipaññāvepullāya saṁvattatimahāpaññatāya saṁvattatiputhupaññatāya saṁvattativipulapaññatāya saṁvattatigambhīrapaññatāya saṁvattatiasāmantapaññatāya saṁvattatibhūripaññatāya saṁvattatipaññābāhullāya saṁvattatisīghapaññatāya saṁvattatilahupaññatāya saṁvattatihāsapaññatāya saṁvattatijavanapaññatāya saṁvattatitikkhapaññatāya saṁvattatinibbedhikapaññatāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpaṭilābhāya saṁvattatipaññāvuddhiyā saṁvattatipaññāvepullāya saṁvattatimahāpaññatāya saṁvattatiputhupaññatāya saṁvattativipulapaññatāya saṁvattatigambhīrapaññatāya saṁvattatiasāmantapaññatāya saṁvattatibhūripaññatāya saṁvattatipaññābāhullāya saṁvattatisīghapaññatāya saṁvattatilahupaññatāya saṁvattatihāsapaññatāya saṁvattatijavanapaññatāya saṁvattatitikkhapaññatāya saṁvattatinibbedhikapaññatāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the acquisition of wisdom ... the growth of wisdom ... the expansion of wisdom ... to great wisdom ... to widespread wisdom ... to abundant wisdom ... to profound wisdom ... to extraordinary wisdom ... to vast wisdom ... to ample wisdom ... to quick wisdom ... to agile wisdom ... to joyful wisdom ... to swift wisdom ... to piercing wisdom ... to penetrative wisdom. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the acquisition of wisdom ... the growth of wisdom ... the expansion of wisdom ... to great wisdom ... to widespread wisdom ... to abundant wisdom ... to profound wisdom ... to extraordinary wisdom ... to vast wisdom ... to ample wisdom ... to quick wisdom ... to agile wisdom ... to joyful wisdom ... to rapid wisdom ... to sharp wisdom ... to penetrative wisdom.”

Topics & Qualities:

Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Mindfulness of Body

Mindfulness of Body

Mindfulness of body is the practice of grounding awareness in the body as it is—through breathing, posture, activities, anatomical reflection, the elements, and contemplation of decay. Cultivated and frequently practiced, it steadies the mind, supports sense restraint and collectedness, and becomes a basis for deep tranquility and release.

Also known as: mindfulness of the body, mindfulness immersed in the body, mindfulness directed to the body, contemplation of the body
Pāli: kāyagatāsati, kāyānupassanā
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Last updated on March 17, 2026