The Buddha teaches on the four establishments of mindfulness regarding not learned from anyone else, guiding mendicants in the direct path to realization of extinguishment.

SN 47.31 Not Learned From Anyone Else

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“‘Ayaṁ kāye kāyānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Sā kho panāyaṁ kāye kāyānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe… bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Ayaṁ vedanāsu vedanānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Sā kho panāyaṁ vedanāsu vedanānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe… bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Ayaṁ citte cittānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Sā kho panāyaṁ citte cittānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe… bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Ayaṁ dhammesu dhammānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Sā kho panāyaṁ dhammesu dhammānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe… bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“‘Ayaṁ kāye kāyānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

“‘This is the observation of an aspect of the body.’ Such, mendicants, was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another.

‘Sā kho panāyaṁ kāye kāyānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe…

‘This observation of an aspect of the body should be developed.’ …

bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This observation of an aspect of the body has been developed.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another.

‘Ayaṁ vedanāsu vedanānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the observation of an aspect of feelings.’ …

‘Sā kho panāyaṁ vedanāsu vedanānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe…

‘This observation of an aspect of feelings should be developed.’ …

bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This observation of an aspect of feelings has been developed.’ …

‘Ayaṁ citte cittānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the observation of an aspect of the mind.’ …

‘Sā kho panāyaṁ citte cittānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe…

‘This observation of an aspect of the mind should be developed.’ …

bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This observation of an aspect of the mind has been developed.’ …

‘Ayaṁ dhammesu dhammānupassanā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the observation of an aspect of principles.’ …

‘Sā kho panāyaṁ dhammesu dhammānupassanā bhāvetabbā’ti me, bhikkhave …pe…

‘This observation of an aspect of principles should be developed.’ …

bhāvitā’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī”ti.

‘This observation of an aspect of principles has been developed.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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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, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026