Maha Satipatthana Sutta (Four Foundations of Mindfulness Sutta)

The Maha Satipatthana Sutta (DN 22) is a key discourse in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism, emphasizing the systematic cultivation of sati (mindfulness) to achieve liberation from suffering. It is an expanded version of the Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10), with a more detailed treatment of the Four Noble Truths within the contemplation of phenomena. The sutta outlines mindfulness as a deliberate, attentive practice aimed at awakening, not merely passive awareness. The sutta organizes mindfulness practice into four primary domains: Kāyānupassanā (Mindfulness of the Body) – Observing the body, including posture, movements, and breathing. Practices include mindful walking, sitting, standing, and breathing (Anāpāna), as well as contemplation of the body’s impermanence and the elements. Vedanānupassanā (Mindfulness of Feelings) – Observing sensations as they arise, whether pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral, recognizing them as transient phenomena. Cittānupassanā (Mindfulness of the Mind) – Observing mental states, such as desire, aversion, or neutrality, without attachment, understanding the mind’s impermanent and conditioned nature. Dhammānupassanā (Mindfulness of Mental Objects or Phenomena) – Observing categories of experience, including the Five Hindrances, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and the Four Noble Truths, noting their arising and passing away.