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B. Bodhi's translation of satipaṭṭhāna formula: "contemplating the body in the body": what does that even mean?






https://suttacentral.net/sn47.1/en/bodhi?reference=none&highlight=false


“Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. 

He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. 

He dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. 

He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world.


Is this contemplating mind in the mind, or body in the body, or the mind inside the 'body of mind'?



Conclusion

The four satipaṭṭhāna formula, commonly known as "mindfulness", is one of the most important, basic, core practices in early Buddhism. 

It was meant to be memorized, frequently recited, frequently reflected upon.

Based on reading Bodhi's English translation, I have no idea of what that practice is, how to do it, what it means, what it's really trying to achieve.

I'm not criticizing him. I believe he did a very professional, competent translation according to his method, and the goal of what he's trying to achieve as a translator. He was trying to represent the position of orthodox Theravāda, as long as it didn't blatantly contradict the straightforward meaning based on a common sense reading of the suttas. 

But I am pointing out that 'mindfulness' practice, as represented by LBT (late buddhist teachings) hundreds of years after the Buddha, had baggage added to it, meaning expanded, diluted, distortion and confusion. 

In other words LBT attempts to improve and expand the range and meaning of satipaṭṭhāna ("mindfulness") resulted in the  primary meaning of satipaṭṭhāna getting lost in the shuffle. 


In Plain English: How to practice four satipaṭṭhāna formula, AKA "mindfulness"

Based on my research on EBT (early buddhist texts), and countless hours of practice in the field, here is a translation that makes sense.


STED Right Remembering (Eng.) (SN 45.8)



"Monks, what is right remembering [of ☸Dharma]?"
1. He meditates continuously seeing the body as a body [as it actually is].
2. He meditates continuously seeing sensations as sensations [as they actually are].
3. He meditates continuously seeing the mind as a mind [as it actually is].
4. He meditates continuously seeing ☸Dharma as ☸Dharma [as it actually is, the only way to nirvana].

[In all four modes of right remembering of ☸Dharma],
* He is ardent 🏹, he has lucid discerning 👁, he remembers 🐘 [to apply relevant ☸Dharma],
* vanquishing worldly avarice and distressed mental states.

"This, monks, is called right remembering [of ☸Dharma]."


A great test of whether an important Dharma passage is translated and interpreted correctly:

The passage is meant to be (verbally and/or mentally) recited and reflected upon over and over again, hundreds of times a day (the suttas in many places say we are to have 'sati' all the time).

Is this interpretation of Dhamma a useful timely reminder?  

Or do I feel stupid reciting it again and again because it has no practical Dharmic principles I need to apply in this very moment of life I'm experiencing now?



(STED right remembering)

“katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammā-sati?
what **, *********, is right-remembering?

(1. 🏃 kāyā-(a)nu-passī)

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.

(2. vedanā-(a)nu-passī)

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.

(3. cittā-(a)nu-passī)

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.

(4. ☸Dhammā-(a)nu-passī)

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.
ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammā-sati.
This is called, *********, right remembering.






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