Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
47. Sati-Paṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
5. Amata Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
47. Kindred Sayings on the Stations of Mindfulness
5. The Deathless
Sutta 47
Du-c-Carita Suttaṃ
Wrong Conduct
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then a certain monk came to see the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
Seated at one side he said to the Exalted One: -
"Well for me, lord, if the Exalted One should teach me a teaching in brief,
hearing which teaching from the Exalted One
I might dwell solitary,
remote,
earnest,
ardent
and aspiring."
"Then, monk, you must purify the rudiments in good states.
And what are the rudiments in good states?
Herein, monk, abandoning wrong conduct in body,
do you cultivate right conduct in body.
Likewise, abandoning wrong conduct in speech,
you should cultivate right conduct in speech.[ed1]
Abandoning wrong conduct in mind,
you should cultivate right conduct in mind.
Then, monk, abandoning wrong conduct in body,
cultivating right conduct in body
abandoning wrong conduct in speech,
cultivating right conduct in speech
abandoning wrong conduct in mind,
cultivating right conduct in mind,
leaning on virtue,
established in virtue,
you should cultivate four stations of mindfulness.
What four?
[165] Herein a monk dwells in body contemplating body
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
by restraing the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
He dwells as regards feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
by restraing the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
by restraing the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind-states contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
by restraing the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
Now, monk, when you,
leaning on virtue
and established in virtue,
shall have thus cultivated the four stations of mindfulness, -
then, monk, you may look for that increase in good states
which shall come to you,
whether by night or by day,
and not for decrease in good states."
Then that monk was delighted with the words of the Exalted One
and not long after,
dwelling solitary,
secluded,
zealous,
ardent
and aspiring,
in no long time
attained that goal supreme of the righteous life,
to win which
the clansmen rightly go forth from home
to the homeless.
So that in that very life,
of himself,
he fully understood it,
realized it
and abode therein,
and knew:
"Destroyed is rebirth,
lived is the righteous life,
done is the task,
for life in these conditions
there is no hereafter."
And that monk was yet another of the Arahants.
[ed1] Woodward here has mistakenly placed 'feelings, mind, and mind-states.'
