Mindful

“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindful and aware. This is my instruction to you.

“Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.

“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindful and aware. “Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. This is my instruction to you. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.

And how is a mendicant mindful? 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. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. That’s how a mendicant is mindful.

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.

And how is a mendicant mindful? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti? 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. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … vedanāsu …pe… mind … citte …pe… principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. That’s how a mendicant is mindful. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti.

And how is a mendicant aware? It’s when a mendicant knows feelings as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. *This is the closest thing in the Suttas to the modern meditative practices known as “bare awareness”. Here, this meditative practice is said to be the “awareness” part of “mindfulness and awareness” (satisampajañña), as an complement to situational awareness in daily activities (SN 47.2). At DN 33:1.11.37 = AN 4.41:4.1 it is a further development of immersion leading to mindfulness and awareness, at AN 7.38:1.6 and AN 7.39:1.6 it leads to the four kinds of textual analysis, and at MN 123:22.2 it is one of the marvelous qualities of the Buddha.They know thoughts as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. They know perceptions as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. That’s how a mendicant is aware. A mendicant should live mindful and aware. This is my instruction to you.”

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajāno hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno viditā vedanā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. Viditā vitakkā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. Viditā saññā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajāno hoti. Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

And how is a mendicant aware? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajāno hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows feelings as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. *This is the closest thing in the Suttas to the modern meditative practices known as “bare awareness”. Here, this meditative practice is said to be the “awareness” part of “mindfulness and awareness” (satisampajañña), as an complement to situational awareness in daily activities (SN 47.2). At DN 33:1.11.37 = AN 4.41:4.1 it is a further development of immersion leading to mindfulness and awareness, at AN 7.38:1.6 and AN 7.39:1.6 it leads to the four kinds of textual analysis, and at MN 123:22.2 it is one of the marvelous qualities of the Buddha.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno viditā vedanā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. They know thoughts as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. Viditā vitakkā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. They know perceptions as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. Viditā saññā uppajjanti, viditā upaṭṭhahanti, viditā abbhatthaṁ gacchanti. That’s how a mendicant is aware. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajāno hoti. A mendicant should live mindful and aware. Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. This is my instruction to you.” Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.