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And we continue with the exegesis of SN 48.10. I chose this sutta because it covered a particular list that I've been wanting to work with more: The Five Faculties, typically translated as "faith", "energy", "mindfulness", "concentration", and "wisdom". These are capacities we have within us, abilities that we can draw on to assist us in our path to liberation of heart and mind from unsatisfactoriness, stress, and suffering. They are not necessarily things we do (as is becoming clear to me as I work through this list and work with each faculty), but abilities we have that we can cultivate. This list is identical to the Five Powers, which means that these abilities can become powers, can become strengths that flow through us an enable us to bring benefit to ourselves and others.
I liked this sutta because there are a number of sub-lists associated with the faculties, such as the four strivings and the four bases of success. I'll put a little index at the bottom of this post listing where we've been on this. But for now, we're looking at the text on mindfulness, which is (in my translation):
Last time, we looked at the qualities of "mindfulness": ardency, alertness, and mindfulness. This time, we'll look at those four different perspectives one can take, those four different areas one can look at: The body (kāya), feelings(vedanā), mind (citta), and mental processes (dhamma).
( the four foundations of mindfulness )
I liked this sutta because there are a number of sub-lists associated with the faculties, such as the four strivings and the four bases of success. I'll put a little index at the bottom of this post listing where we've been on this. But for now, we're looking at the text on mindfulness, which is (in my translation):
And what, O monks, is the faculty of mindfulness?
Here, O monks, a noble disciple is endowed with mindfulness and carefulness, remembers and recalls what was said and done a long time ago.
Ardent, alert, and mindful, they abide watching the body in the body, having put away covetousness and sorrow for the world.
Ardent, alert, and mindful, they abide watching the feelings in the feelings, having put away covetousness and sorrow for the world.
Ardent, alert, and mindful, they abide watching the mind in the mind, having put away covetousness and sorrow for the world.
Ardent, alert, and mindful, they abide watching the mental processes [or qualities] in the mental processes, having put away covetousness and sorrow for the world.
This, O monks, is called the faculty of mindfulness.
Last time, we looked at the qualities of "mindfulness": ardency, alertness, and mindfulness. This time, we'll look at those four different perspectives one can take, those four different areas one can look at: The body (kāya), feelings(vedanā), mind (citta), and mental processes (dhamma).
( the four foundations of mindfulness )