Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
47. Sati-Paṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
1. Ambapāli Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
47. Kindred Sayings on the Stations of Mindfulness
1. Ambapālī
Sutta 1
Ambapālī Suttaṃ
Ambapālī
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying at Vesālī, in Ambapālī's Grove.[1]
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Lord" replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"This, monks, is the sole way[2]
that leads to the purification of beings,
to the utter passing beyond sorrow and grief,
to the destruction of woe and lamentation,
to the winning of the Method,[3]
to realizing Nibbāna,
to wit:
The four stations of mindfulness.
What are the four?
Herein a monk abides in body contemplating body[4]
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained[5] the dejection in the world[6]
[120] arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind-states[7] contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
This, monks, is the sole way
that leads to the purification of beings,
to the utter passing beyond sorrow and grief,
to the destruction of woe and lamentation,
to the winning of the Method,
to realizing Nibbāna,
to wit:
The four stations of mindfulness.
Thus spake the Exalted One,[ed1]
and those brethren were pleased at the words of the Exalted One and welcomed them."
[1] Ambapāli-vana; D. ii, 94. For Ambapālī (mango-guard), a courtezan, who presented this grove to the Buddha, see D. ii, 95-8; Dialog. ii, 102 ff.: Sisters, 120 ff.
[2] Ekāyano (text misprints twice as ekāya no). Comy. reads ekāyanāyaṇ; below there is a vl. ekāyanvāyaṇ. Cf. M. i, 55, ekāyano ayaṇ maggo; i, 74; D. iii, 221; Pts. of Contr. 105, 107, 'the sole conveying path'; Mahānidd. i, 455. Comy. ekāyano = eka maggo; maggassa hi maggo pantho patho pajjo añjasaṇ vatumāyanaṇ, etc. ... na dvedhā patha-bhūto (not diverging).
[3] Ñāya = ariyo aṭṭhangiko maggo. Comy.
[4] Cf. K.S. iv, 142 n.
[5] Vineyya. Comy. tadanga-vinayena vā vikkambhana-vinayena vā vinayitvā.Loke=kdye. Comy. which refers to Vibhanga s.v.
[6] Loke = kāye. Comy. which refers to Vibhanga s.v.
[7] Dhammesu.
[ed1] Conclusion omitted by Woodward. Picked up from SN 4.35.28
