The Buddha teaches the four establishments of mindfulness—body, feelings, mind, and principles—as the direct path for the purification of beings, the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, and the realization of extinguishment.

SN 47.33 Missed Out

“Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā viraddhā, viraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī. Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā āraddhā, āraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī.

Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā viraddhā, viraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī. Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā āraddhā, āraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā viraddhā, viraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī.

“Mendicants, whoever has missed out on the four kinds of mindfulness meditation has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.

Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā āraddhā, āraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī.

Whoever has undertaken the four kinds of mindfulness meditation has undertaken the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

vedanāsu …pe…

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

citte …pe…

mind …

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā viraddhā, viraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī.

Whoever has missed out on these four kinds of mindfulness meditation has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.

Yesaṁ kesañci, bhikkhave, ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā āraddhā, āraddho tesaṁ ariyo maggo sammā dukkhakkhayagāmī”ti.

Whoever has undertaken these four kinds of mindfulness meditation has undertaken the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Displeasure

Displeasure

A feeling of mental pain or a disagreeable feeling or unease born of mental contact.

Also known as: mental pain, mental distress, melancholy, sadness
Pāli: domanassa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026