Reading guide
A private reflection on what's been missed and what's been gained
Confirmed by direct reading, Anuruddha's own opening thought is framed as a stark either/or: “whoever has missed out on these four kinds of mindfulness meditation has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering” — and the reverse for whoever has undertaken them.
Moggallāna's own psychic power, put to direct use
This project's own cross-reference: Moggallāna's own instant appearance — “as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm” — is a direct, practical instance of the same psychic power this project has just spent this entire prior saṃyutta (SN 51) translating in theory; here it is shown solving an immediate, ordinary need: knowing what a fellow mendicant is privately thinking and responding to it in person.
The four satipaṭṭhāna, defined with full technical precision
Confirmed by direct reading, Anuruddha's own answer gives the classic fourfold structure (body, feelings, mind, principles) each observed “internally... externally... internally and externally,” “observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish” — the same structure this project has already met in the foundations of mindfulness elsewhere on this site.
A fivefold perception-wish formula, given in full for the body
Confirmed by direct reading, Anuruddha's own account of body-contemplation adds a distinctive fivefold list of deliberate perceptual choices: perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive, the unrepulsive in the repulsive, the repulsive in both, the unrepulsive in both, or remaining equanimous while shunning both — a mastery-of-perception formula this project has not yet encountered in this exact form.
Key terms
The text
§1So I have heard. At one time Venerable Anuruddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then as Anuruddha was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: “Whoever has missed out on these four kinds of mindfulness meditation has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering. Whoever has undertaken these four kinds of mindfulness meditation has undertaken the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.”
§2Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna knew what Venerable Anuruddha was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he reappeared in front of Anuruddha, and said to him: “Reverend Anuruddha, how do you define the undertaking of the four kinds of mindfulness meditation by a mendicant?”
§3“Reverend, it’s when a mendicant, with respect to the body internally, meditates observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. With respect to the body externally, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. With respect to the body internally and externally, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.
§4If they wish: ‘May I meditate perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive,’ that’s what they do. If they wish: ‘May I meditate perceiving the unrepulsive in the repulsive,’ that’s what they do. If they wish: ‘May I meditate perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive and the repulsive,’ that’s what they do. If they wish: ‘May I meditate perceiving the unrepulsive in the repulsive and the unrepulsive,’ that’s what they do. If they wish: ‘May I meditate staying equanimous, mindful and aware, shunning both the repulsive and the unrepulsive,’ that’s what they do.
§5With respect to feelings internally … externally … internally and externally, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish …
§6With respect to the mind internally … externally … internally and externally, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish …
§7With respect to principles internally … externally … internally and externally, they meditate observing the liability to originate, to vanish, and to originate and vanish …
§8If they wish: ‘May I meditate perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive,’ that’s what they do. … If they wish: ‘May I meditate staying equanimous, mindful and aware, ignoring both the repulsive and the unrepulsive,’ that’s what they do. That’s how to define the undertaking of the four kinds of mindfulness meditation by a mendicant.”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.