This page is a summary, also to some extent a version, since it is a translation into English, of the main contents of the Satipatthana sutta. It is good to read it, if you can, in the original Pali.
A summary of the Satipatthana sutta by Asvajit
This is the direct path for:
(1) purification
(2) surmounting sorrow and lamentation
(3) for the disappearance of dukkha and discontent
(4) for acquiring the true method to realize Nibbana
Meaning of the word satipatthana: recollection (sati), of a step or procedure (patthana) leading onwards to a further, higher step or stage.
The Four Foundations or Supports of Mindfulness (sati, smṛti) according to the Pali:
Awareness of the body (kāya, Pali and Sanskrit) and its movements
Awareness of the feelings (vedana, Pali and Sanskrit), whether painful, pleasant or neutral
Awareness of thoughts or mind (citta, Pali and Sanskrit)
Awareness of mental objects (dhamma, dharma)
1 Contemplation of the Body (rupa):
Noting its breathing, its postures and activities, the parts of the body, its decay, and the four elements.
2 Contemplation of Feelings:
Noting whether they are pleasant, painful or neutral, and whether they are worldly or “unworldly” feelings
3 Contemplation of the [ordinary] mind:
Noting the presence OR absence of lust, anger and delusion.
Noting the presence OR absence of: delusion, contraction, narrowness, limitation, distraction or bondage.
Noting whether the mind is referring to internal or external matters: internal – regarded as wholly to do with one’s own body-mind; external: mind's activities in relation to matters thought of as being outside itself.
4a Contemplation of “internal” dhammas: the Five Hindrances
Noting the presence [or absence] of sensual desire, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, doubt.
Knowing how an unarisen hindrance arises, how an arisen hindrance can be removed, and how it can be prevented from arising in future.
Recognising the five types of clinging: to material form (rupa), to feeling (vedana), to [re]cognition (samjna), to habitual actions / volitions (samskara), to consciousness (vijnana). Noting the arising and passing away of all these.
4b Contemplation of “external” dhammas - one’s perception of and interaction with others and the world: of mental events in terms of the six internal AND six external sense-spheres:
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the eye and forms, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the ear and sounds, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the nose and smells, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise from the tongue and flavours, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise from the skin and tactile sensations, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise both from the mind and mind-objects, how removed and how prevented.
4c Contemplation of factors leading to Awakening: the seven bojjhangas, bodhyangas
Recognising the presence OR absence of:
i mindfulness (sati, smrti); how it can arise and be perfected.
ii investigation of mental states (dhammavichaya, dharmavicaya); how it can arise and be perfected.
iii energy in pursuit of the good (viriya, virya); how it can arise and be perfected.
iv calming down (pasaddhi, prasrabdhi); how it can arise and be perfected.
v joy and ecstasy (piti, priti); how it can arise and be perfected.
vi an integrated, directed and concentrated mind (samadhi); how it can arise and be perfected.
vii equanimity (upekka, upeksha) as an Enlightenment factor; how it can arise and be perfected.
4d Contemplating the Four Noble Truths
Knowing dukkha as it really is; its arising, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation.
The result of the practice of all four satipatthanas :
If anyone develops these four satipatthanas effectively for even as little as seven days, one of two fruits can be expected:
either final knowledge and realisation here and now, or if there is a trace of clinging left, then non-returning.
*****
Short summary by Bhante (Sangharakshita) of the Four Foundations or Supports of Mindfulness (sati, smṛti)
Awareness of the body (kāya, Pali and Sanskrit) and its movements
Awareness of the feelings (vedana, Pali and Sanskrit), whether painful, pleasant or neutral
Awareness of thoughts or mind (citta, Pali and Sanskrit)
Awareness of mental objects (dhamma, dharma)
(Mind Reactive and Creative, 23ff)
Bhante’s four Dimensions of Mindfulness for contemporary practitioners.
Awareness of self
Awareness of others
Awareness of the environment
Awareness of reality
N.B. These "Dimensions" utilise or incorporate the Pali Foundations but go beyond them to draw contemporary man's attention to the vital need to pay kindly, metta-ful attention to other people and to the environment.
This is the direct path for:
(1) purification
(2) surmounting sorrow and lamentation
(3) for the disappearance of dukkha and discontent
(4) for acquiring the true method to realize Nibbana
Meaning of the word satipatthana: recollection (sati), of a step or procedure (patthana) leading onwards to a further, higher step or stage.
The Four Foundations or Supports of Mindfulness (sati, smṛti) according to the Pali:
Awareness of the body (kāya, Pali and Sanskrit) and its movements
Awareness of the feelings (vedana, Pali and Sanskrit), whether painful, pleasant or neutral
Awareness of thoughts or mind (citta, Pali and Sanskrit)
Awareness of mental objects (dhamma, dharma)
1 Contemplation of the Body (rupa):
Noting its breathing, its postures and activities, the parts of the body, its decay, and the four elements.
2 Contemplation of Feelings:
Noting whether they are pleasant, painful or neutral, and whether they are worldly or “unworldly” feelings
3 Contemplation of the [ordinary] mind:
Noting the presence OR absence of lust, anger and delusion.
Noting the presence OR absence of: delusion, contraction, narrowness, limitation, distraction or bondage.
Noting whether the mind is referring to internal or external matters: internal – regarded as wholly to do with one’s own body-mind; external: mind's activities in relation to matters thought of as being outside itself.
4a Contemplation of “internal” dhammas: the Five Hindrances
Noting the presence [or absence] of sensual desire, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, doubt.
Knowing how an unarisen hindrance arises, how an arisen hindrance can be removed, and how it can be prevented from arising in future.
Recognising the five types of clinging: to material form (rupa), to feeling (vedana), to [re]cognition (samjna), to habitual actions / volitions (samskara), to consciousness (vijnana). Noting the arising and passing away of all these.
4b Contemplation of “external” dhammas - one’s perception of and interaction with others and the world: of mental events in terms of the six internal AND six external sense-spheres:
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the eye and forms, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the ear and sounds, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetters that may arise from the nose and smells, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise from the tongue and flavours, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise from the skin and tactile sensations, how removed and how prevented.
Knowing the fetter that may arise both from the mind and mind-objects, how removed and how prevented.
4c Contemplation of factors leading to Awakening: the seven bojjhangas, bodhyangas
Recognising the presence OR absence of:
i mindfulness (sati, smrti); how it can arise and be perfected.
ii investigation of mental states (dhammavichaya, dharmavicaya); how it can arise and be perfected.
iii energy in pursuit of the good (viriya, virya); how it can arise and be perfected.
iv calming down (pasaddhi, prasrabdhi); how it can arise and be perfected.
v joy and ecstasy (piti, priti); how it can arise and be perfected.
vi an integrated, directed and concentrated mind (samadhi); how it can arise and be perfected.
vii equanimity (upekka, upeksha) as an Enlightenment factor; how it can arise and be perfected.
4d Contemplating the Four Noble Truths
Knowing dukkha as it really is; its arising, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation.
The result of the practice of all four satipatthanas :
If anyone develops these four satipatthanas effectively for even as little as seven days, one of two fruits can be expected:
either final knowledge and realisation here and now, or if there is a trace of clinging left, then non-returning.
*****
Short summary by Bhante (Sangharakshita) of the Four Foundations or Supports of Mindfulness (sati, smṛti)
Awareness of the body (kāya, Pali and Sanskrit) and its movements
Awareness of the feelings (vedana, Pali and Sanskrit), whether painful, pleasant or neutral
Awareness of thoughts or mind (citta, Pali and Sanskrit)
Awareness of mental objects (dhamma, dharma)
(Mind Reactive and Creative, 23ff)
Bhante’s four Dimensions of Mindfulness for contemporary practitioners.
Awareness of self
Awareness of others
Awareness of the environment
Awareness of reality
N.B. These "Dimensions" utilise or incorporate the Pali Foundations but go beyond them to draw contemporary man's attention to the vital need to pay kindly, metta-ful attention to other people and to the environment.