The Related Suttas Collection 47.1

1. In Ambapālī’s Mango Grove

In Ambapālī’s Mango Grove

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, in Ambapālī’s Mango Grove. There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus!”

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Bhikkhus, the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize Nibbana. What four?

It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by watching, again and again, an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate watching, again and again, an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate watching, again and again, an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate watching, again and again, an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize Nibbana.”

That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the bhikkhus approved what the Buddha said.