The Medium Discourses

Chapter 5: Related to Cultivation

44. Mindfulness

1. Thus I have heard:[1] One time, the Buddha traveled to the country of Śrāvastī and stayed at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove.

2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “If a monk is forgetful and lacks right knowledge, then that’s detrimental to his right mindfulness and right knowledge. If he lacks right mindfulness and right knowledge, then that’s detrimental to guarding his faculties … guarding the precepts … having no regrets … gladness … joy … calmness … happiness … samādhi … true seeing and true knowing … disenchantment … lack of desire … liberation. If he lacks liberation, then that will be detrimental to nirvāṇa.

3. “If a monk is not forgetful and has right knowledge, he readily cultivates right mindfulness and right knowledge. If he has right mindfulness and right knowledge, he readily cultivates guarding his faculties … guarding the precepts … having no regrets … gladness … joy … calmness … happiness … samādhi … true seeing and true knowing … disenchantment … lack of desire … liberation. If he has liberation, then he readily cultivates nirvāṇa.”

4. The Buddha spoke thus. Those monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

Notes

1. For the source text, cf. T26.1.485c22-6a3. This sūtra is parallel with AN 8.81 and AN 11.3. [Back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 28 March 2024