Foundations of Mindfulness

This is the only way, monks,

• for the purification of minds of beings,
• for overcoming sorrow and lamentation,
• for the disappearance of pain and grief,
• for reaching the Path,
• for the realization of Nibbana,

namely, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

What are the four? Herein, monks,

(1) a monk dwells practicing
body-contemplation on the body,
ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful,
overcoming covetousness and grief in the world;

(2) he dwells practicing
feeling-contemplation on the feelings,
ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful,
overcoming covetousness and grief in the world;

(3) he dwells practicing
mind-contemplation on the mind,
ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful,
overcoming covetousness and grief in the world;

(4) he dwells practicing
dhamma-object contemplation on the dhamma-objects,
ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful,
overcoming covetousness and grief in the world.