samma.JPG (17894 bytes)

In the Noble Eightfold Path, the practice leading to the complete cessation of Unsatisfactoriness, Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati is counted as the second factor of the Sama.gif (845 bytes)dhi Section, the “Higher Mental Training”. The usual definition of  Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati given in the Discourses is as follows:

“Bhikkhus, What is Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati? This is called Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati, namely, that a bhikkhu in this Dhamma Vinaya:

1 Contemplates the body in the body with effort, sampajannn.gif (73 bytes)nnn.gif (73 bytes)a and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard with regard to the world;
2 Contemplates feeling in feelings with effort, sampajannn.gif (73 bytes)nnn.gif (73 bytes)a and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;
3 Contemplates the mind in the mind with effort, sampajannn.gif (73 bytes)nnn.gif (73 bytes)a and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;
4 Contemplates dhammas in dhammas with effort, sampajannn.gif (73 bytes)nnn.gif (73 bytes)a and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world."
Another definition, which appears in the Abhidhamma texts, is as follows :

“ What is samma.gif (845 bytes)sati? Sati means to bear in mind or bring to mind. Sati is the state of recollecting, the state of remembering, the state of non-fading, the state of non-forgetting. Sati means the sati that is a Spiritual Faculty, the sati that is a Spiritual Power,

Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati, the Sati that is an Enlightenment Factor, that which is a Path Factor and that which is related to the Path. This is what is called Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati.”

Samma.gif (845 bytes)sati, as defined in the Discourses, is a synonym for the principles of Dhamma known as the Four satipatthana. The four elements of this group have the abbreviated names of:

1. Ka.gif (845 bytes)ya.gif (845 bytes)nupassana.gif (845 bytes) (contemplation or mindfulness of the body);

2. Vedana.gif (845 bytes)nupassana.gif (845 bytes) (contemplation or mindfulness of feelings);

3. Citta.gif (845 bytes)nupassana.gif (845 bytes) (contemplation or mindfulness of mind);

4. Dhamma.gif (845 bytes)nupassana.gif (845 bytes) (contemplation or mindfulness of dhammas).

Before investigating the meaning off samma.gif (845 bytes)sati in terms of the Four Satipattha.gif (845 bytes)na, it would seem appropriate to make a few general points on the subject of sati to serve as a basic foundation for our study.

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