The Buddha teaches on the four establishments of mindfulness regarding mindful, urging mendicants to meditate keen, aware, and mindful on body, feelings, mind, and principles, rid of covetousness and displeasure.
“Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti? 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. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti. Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya.
“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindfully.
Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.
This is my instruction to you.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti?
And how is a mendicant mindful?
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.
Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti.
That’s how a mendicant is mindful.
Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya.
A mendicant should live mindfully.
Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.
This is my instruction to you.”
Catutthaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026