Reading guide
Mindful -- defined by the fourfold formula
The discourse first asks “how is a mendicant mindful?” and answers with the identical fourfold formula from SN 47.1 (observing the body, feelings, mind, and principles), here elided in the Pāli root after the body is spelled out in full — confirming this project's own earlier reading that SN 47.1's formula is the shared foundation every later discourse assumes rather than restates.
Aware -- defined by everyday situational clarity
The discourse then asks “how is a mendicant aware?” and answers with a DIFFERENT kind of list entirely: acting with full clarity while going and coming, looking ahead and aside, bending and extending the limbs, carrying robe and bowl, eating and drinking, using the toilet, and while walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and staying silent — confirming “awareness” (sampajañña) in this discourse's own usage names ordinary bodily clarity during daily activity, not a synonym for mindfulness itself.
The same instruction, opening and closing
The discourse's own instruction — “a mendicant should live mindful and aware; this is my instruction to you” — is confirmed by direct reading to bookend both halves of the discourse identically, framing the two definitions that follow as elaborations of one single teaching rather than two separate ones.
Key terms
The text
§1 — settingAt one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, in Ambapālī’s mango grove. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
§2 — defining "mindful"“Mendicants, a mendicant should live mindful and aware. This is my instruction to you. And how is a mendicant mindful? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. That’s how a mendicant is mindful.
§3 — defining "aware"And how is a mendicant aware? It’s when a mendicant acts with situational awareness when going out and coming back; when looking ahead and aside; when bending and extending the limbs; when bearing the outer robe, bowl and robes; when eating, drinking, chewing, and tasting; when urinating and defecating; when walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and keeping silent. That’s how a mendicant acts with situational awareness. A mendicant should live mindful and aware. This is my instruction to you.”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.