1. Ambapali Sutta
Discourse given in Ambapali Park

Ambapali Vagga, Satipatthana Samyutta
Mahavagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

Discourse given in Ambapali Park

       367. Thus have I heard:

       At one time the Bhagava was residing at the Ambapali park in Vesali. There the Bhagava addressed the bhikkhus, Saying 'Oh bhikkhus' and the bhikkhus replied to him, 'Venerable Sir'. Then the Bhagava spoke thus;

       " Bhikkhus, this is the one and only way for the purification (of the minds) of beings for overcoming sorrow and lamentations, for the complete destruction of (physical) pain and (mental) distress for the attainment of the (ariya) magga, and for the realization of Nibbana. That (only way) is the practice of the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness, Satipatthana."

       " What are the Four (Satipatthana)? Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu in this Teaching keeps his mind steadfastly on the body (kaya), with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, (and perceives its impermanent, insecure, soulless and repulsive nature), thus keeping away covetousness and distress (which will appear if he is not mindful in the five khandhas.)"

       "The bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on Sensation (vedana) with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, (and perceives its impermanent, insecure, and soulless nature), thus keeping away covetousness and distress which will appear if he is not mindful in the five khandhas. "

       "The bhikkhu concentrates steadfastly on the mind (citta) with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, (and perceive the impermanent, insecure, and soulless nature), thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas."

       "The bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on the dhamma*, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, (and perceives the impermanent, insecure and soulless nature), thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas."

       "Bhikkhus, this is the one and only way for the purification (of the minds) of beings, for overcoming sorrow and lamentation, for the complete destruction of (physical) pain and (mental) distress, for the attainment of the noble (ariya) magga, and for the realization of Nibbana. That (only way) is the practice of the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness, Satipatthana."

       Thus said the Bhagava and the bhikkhus were delighted and they rejoiced at the words of the Bhagava.

End of the Ambapali Sutta,

the first in this Vagga.

       * Dhamma: Here dhamma refers to five categories of dhamma, namely: (1) five Nivaranas, (2) five khandhas, (3) twelve ayatanas (4) seven bojjhangas and (5) four Ariya saccas.