Reading guide
A three-step chain, repeated for each object separately
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse does NOT state its own claim once for all four kinds of mindfulness meditation together, as several surrounding discourses in this vagga do — it repeats the identical three-step chain (observe, give up desire, realize freedom from death) FOUR separate times, once for the body, once for feelings, once for the mind, and once for principles.
Desire FOR the object itself, not desire in general
The discourse's own phrase “yo kāyasmiṁ chando” (“whatever desire there is for the body”) is confirmed by direct reading to name desire for EACH SPECIFIC OBJECT observed — desire for the body, for feelings, for the mind, for principles — rather than a single generic desire given up all at once.
Freedom from death, realized object by object
Confirmed by direct reading, the discourse's own closing phrase for each of the four sections — “chandassa pahānā amataṁ sacchikataṁ hoti” (“when desire is given up, freedom from death is realized”) — repeats IDENTICALLY after each of the four objects, giving the discourse a fourfold, parallel structure rather than a single combined conclusion.
Key terms
The text
§1 — the body“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. As they do so they give up desire for the body. When desire is given up they realize freedom from death.
§2 — feelingsThey meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they do so they give up desire for feelings. When desire is given up they realize freedom from death.
§3 — the mindThey meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they do so they give up desire for the mind. When desire is given up they realize freedom from death.
§4 — principlesThey meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they do so they give up desire for principles. When desire is given up they realize freedom from death.”
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