Reading guide
Two heaps, one grammatical structure
Confirmed by direct comparison, the discourse's own two halves use word-for-word identical sentence structure — “rightly speaking, you'd call these [N] a ‘heap of the [unskillful/skillful]’; for these [N] are entirely a heap of the [unskillful/skillful]” — applied first to the five hindrances and then to the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, framing them as structural opposites rather than merely two separate lists.
"Entirely" -- kevalo, not merely a collection
The word “kevalo” (“entirely, wholly”) is confirmed by direct reading to modify both heaps identically — the hindrances are not PART of what is unskillful but the WHOLE of it, and the four establishments are not part of what is skillful but the whole of it, at least as this discourse's own rhetorical claim frames the comparison.
Five hindrances, four establishments -- an asymmetry within the symmetry
The two heaps are confirmed by direct count to be UNEQUAL in size — five hindrances against four establishments of mindfulness — a detail this discourse's own parallel wording does not smooth over, left here as the source itself presents it rather than adjusted for a false symmetry.
Key terms
The text
§1 — the five hindrances as a heap of the unskillfulAt Sāvatthī. There the Buddha said: “Rightly speaking, mendicants, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’. For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful. What five? The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. Rightly speaking, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’. For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.
§2 — the four establishments as a heap of the skillfulRightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’. For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful. 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 … They meditate observing an aspect of the mind … They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’. For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.”
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