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STED Sati: a concise yet comprehensive definition


STED Sati



sati = remembering

0. Basic function and Pre-buddhist (MN 36 5ind) meaning of sati: 'remembers' what was done and said from long ago (SN 48.9 sati-indriya).
1. Whenever you see 'sati' without qualification in the suttas, almost always the intended meaning is the specialized Buddhist definition in SN 47.2.
1a. sati = STED 4sp satipattana formula
1b. Sati is recursively defined as S&S (sati & sampajano) in each of the 4sp., remembering & lucid-discerning.
1c. The lucid-discerning (sampajano) that rides shotgun with sati in S&S, is a thin disguise for right view. Pajano is a form of pañña (discernment), and many suttas equate pañña with right-view. So sati can not be a choiceless awareness zombie with Right View joined at the hip with sati like siamese twins.
2. Sati remembers ☸Dhamma. Always. ☸Dhamma = Buddha's teaching that leads to ... viraga, nirodha, ... Nirvana. The 4sp formula in the officical sati definition is another concise way to express ☸Dhamma. So is the 4nt.
3. Sati is the head of the 7sb dragon (SN 46.1). When you see 'sati', often it's implied you should slurp in all 7sb awakening factors into the picture, which you already start to do by slurping in 2nd factor ☸Dhamma-vicaya. ☸Dhamma is what sati remembers, and ☸Dhamma is what the 2nd factor in 7sb investigates. The 3rd factor Viriya vigorously executes the ☸Dhamma instructions recalled by sati. Etc.

✅Right and ⛔Wrong

✅Sati can take on any one or more of the meanings above in any combination, simultaneously. They're not mutually exclusive.
✅In the suttas, you often see S&S as as compound, or just 'S' sati on its own. Whichever form is used, usually all meanings are implied. I.e. sati includes S&S, 4sp, 7sb.
⛔Sati is not choiceless awareness *
⛔Sati is not bare present moment awareness *
* Sati may at times manifest superificial symptoms that resemble a choiceless awareness zombie, but that is a side effect, and not the true meaning of sati. 

STED 4sp

kāye kāyā-(a)nu-passī viharati
Body-as-body – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in,
ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
(he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ;
vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states.
vedanāsu vedanā-(a)nu-passī viharati
Experienced-sensations-(as)-experienced-sensations – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in
ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
(he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ;
vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states.
citte cittā-(a)nu-passī viharati
Mind-as mind – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in,
ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
(he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ;
vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states.
dhammesu dhammā-(a)nu-passī viharati
☸Dhamma-[teachings]-as-☸Dhamma – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in,
ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
(he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ;
vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states.



https://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/cgb3fq/what_is_buddhist_mindfulness_meditation_how_to_be/

What is Buddhist mindfulness meditation, how to be mindful

New User
I would like to understand and practice mindfulness or mindfulness meditation, what exactly are they in Buddhism? Can you please explain, give me some advice, suggestion, source or anything about it. Thanks in advance :)

sati: A simple explanation


sati = remembering.
People are forgetful (a-sati).
Their attention gets distracted all the time, and they forget what they should be doing.
They get distracted, confused, and seduced by defilements (non-Dharma).
Sati remembers ☸Dharma. Always.
Sati's role in the 8aam noble eightfold path, is to remember the ☸Dharma that we're so forgetful of.
Whenever your mind is remembering and engrossed in non-Dharma, it's in grave danger.
Sati is the re-mindfulness factor that reminds you to turn your attention away from non-Dharma, back to ☸Dharma.

This is why sati is NOT mindfulness


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