How do I practise meditation according to the Satipatthana Sutta?
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The Satipatthana Sutta begins in the following manner:
> *"And how does a monk remain focused on the body in & of itself?*
>
> *"There is the case where a monk — having gone to the wilderness, to the shade of a tree, or to an empty building — sits down folding his
> legs crosswise, holding his body erect and setting mindfulness to the
> fore [lit: the front of the chest]. Always mindful, he breathes in;
> mindful he breathes out.*
>
> *"Breathing in long, he discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long.' Or
> breathing in short, he discerns, 'I am breathing in short'; or
> breathing out short, he discerns, 'I am breathing out short.' He
> trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the entire body.' He
> trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the entire body.' He
> trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.' He
> trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.' Just
> as a skilled turner or his apprentice, when making a long turn,
> discerns, 'I am making a long turn,' or when making a short turn
> discerns, 'I am making a short turn'; in the same way the monk, when
> breathing in long, discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing
> out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long' ... He trains
> himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.' He trains
> himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.'*
Later, the Satipatthana Sutta says:
> *And how does a monk remain focused on the mind in & of itself? There is the case where a monk, when the mind has passion, discerns that the
> mind has passion. When the mind is without passion, he discerns that
> the mind is without passion. When the mind has aversion, he discerns
> that the mind has aversion. When the mind is without aversion, he
> discerns that the mind is without aversion. When the mind has
> delusion, he discerns that the mind has delusion. When the mind is
> without delusion, he discerns that the mind is without delusion.*
>
> *"When the mind is constricted, he discerns that the mind is constricted. When the mind is scattered, he discerns that the mind is
> scattered. When the mind is enlarged, he discerns that the mind is
> enlarged. When the mind is not enlarged, he discerns that the mind is
> not enlarged. When the mind is surpassed, he discerns that the mind is
> surpassed. When the mind is unsurpassed, he discerns that the mind is
> unsurpassed. When the mind is concentrated, he discerns that the mind
> is concentrated. When the mind is not concentrated, he discerns that
> the mind is not concentrated. When the mind is released, he discerns
> that the mind is released. When the mind is not released, he discerns
> that the mind is not released.*
Then later, again, the Satipatthana Sutta says:
> *"And how does a monk remain focused on mental qualities in & of themselves?*
>
> *"There is the case where a monk remains focused on mental qualities in & of themselves with reference to the five hindrances. And how does
> a monk remain focused on mental qualities in & of themselves with
> reference to the five hindrances? There is the case where, there being
> sensual desire present within, a monk discerns that 'There is sensual
> desire present within me.' Or, there being no sensual desire present
> within, he discerns that 'There is no sensual desire present within
> me.' He discerns how there is the arising of unarisen sensual desire.
> And he discerns how there is the abandoning of sensual desire once it
> has arisen. And he discerns how there is no future arising of sensual
> desire that has been abandoned. (The same formula is repeated for the
> remaining hindrances: ill will, sloth & drowsiness, restlessness &
> anxiety, and uncertainty*
Now the problem I have with practising according to the Satipatthana Sutta is when I practise the first part (*remain focused on the body in & of itself*) there are no mental defilements and no five hindrances to observe. Therefore, how can practise everything said in the Satipatthana Sutta when the mind has no hindrances if I practise the first body section very well?
Asked by Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu
(48153 rep)
May 12, 2018, 09:58 AM
Last activity: May 12, 2018, 02:54 PM
Last activity: May 12, 2018, 02:54 PM