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A Manual of the Path Factors

VII. The Exposition of Right Mindfulness

The minds of beings are never steady, but are always fleeting. They cannot fix the mind steadily on any object of meditation. Since they cannot control the mind they are like mad persons. Society has no regard for mad persons, who have no control over their minds. Those who have cannot control the mind to keep it steady while meditating, find that they resemble a mad person. They are aware that they cannot control the mind when they try to fix it on an object of meditation. To eliminate the unsteady and fleeting mind and to fix it steadily on an object of meditation, one has to practise the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipatthāna).

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

1. Mindfulness of the Body

Kāyānupassanā Satipatthāna means that one’s mind is firmly tied to one’s own body with the rope of Right Mindfulness. One is constantly observing, and focusing one’s mind on physical phenomenon such as exhaling and inhaling. When this practice has been repeated for three or four months, the unsteadiness of the mind will disappear. Then one becomes capable of concentrating one’s mind constantly on one’s own material phenomena, such as inhaling and exhaling, for one hour, two, three, four, five, or six hours every day. Then one has gained control of the mind to fix it on any object of meditation.

2. Mindfulness of Feelings

Vedanānupassanā Satipatthāna means that one’s mind is firmly tied to one’s own feelings with the rope of Right Mindfulness. Pleasant and unpleasant feelings are constantly arising in one’s body dependent upon conditions. Repeatedly fixing the mind on these feelings will put an end to mental restlessness. Then one has gained control of the mind to fix it on any object of meditation.

3. Mindfulness of Consciousness

Cittānupassanā Satipatthāna means that one’s mind is firmly tied to one’s own thoughts with the rope of Right Mindfulness. Different types of consciousness, which are associated with greed and hatred, are alternately present in one’s mind-continuum dependent upon conditions. Repeatedly fixing the mind on these thoughts will put an end to mental restlessness. Then one has gained control of the mind to fix it on any object of meditation.

4. Mindfulness of Mental States

Dhammānupassanā Satipatthāna means that one’s mind is firmly tied to one’s own mental states with the rope of Right Mindfulness. Mental states such as lust, ill-will, sloth, restlessness, worry, doubt, and so forth, are alternately present in one’s mind-continuum dependent upon conditions. Repeatedly fixing the mind on these mental states will put an end to mental restlessness. Then one has gained control of the mind to fix it on any object of meditation.

Bind up with the rope

Satipatthāna means the meditative work of getting rid of the mad, deranged, hot, and burning mind that has accompanied one’s life-continuum from the infinite past, by tying one’s mind with the rope of mindfulness to the four aggretates, namely, material phenomena, feelings, thoughts, and mental states. One must practise for a predetermined period, so that one’s mind does not wander to external objects, but is confined to the aforesaid four groups only.

This should he practised for a fixed period of two or three hours every night according to one’s personal circumstances.