Reading guide
A formula shared with the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta itself
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own closing formula — “diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā” — is IDENTICAL to the formula closing the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10 / DN 22) itself, confirming this saṃyutta's own discourses draw directly on that longer discourse's own closing promise.
Two results, not one guaranteed outcome
The discourse's own phrase “dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ” (“one of two results”) is confirmed by direct reading to leave the OUTCOME open between two possibilities rather than promising a single guaranteed result, acknowledging that practitioners may differ in how completely their clinging is uprooted.
"If there's residue left behind" -- a conditional second outcome
Confirmed by direct reading, the second outcome, non-return, is explicitly conditioned on “residue remaining” (upādisese) — some clinging not yet fully uprooted — distinguishing it from full enlightenment, where by implication no such residue remains.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of mindfulness meditation. What four? 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. These are the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. Because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation, one of two results can be expected: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”
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