{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn47.18/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn47.18","id":"suttacentral_sn47.18","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn47.18/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvel\u0101 at the goatherd\u2019s banyan tree on the bank of the Nera\u00f1jar\u0101 River. Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, \u201cThe four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment. What four? A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Or they\u2019d meditate observing an aspect of feelings \u2026 or mind \u2026 or principles\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.\u201d Then the divinity Sahampati knew the Buddha\u2019s train of thought. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of the Buddha. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said: \u201cThat\u2019s so true, Blessed One! That\u2019s so true, Holy One! Sir, the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment. What four? A mendicant would meditate observing an aspect of the body\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Or they\u2019d meditate observing an aspect of feelings \u2026 or mind \u2026 or principles\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.\u201d That is what the divinity Sahampati said. Then he went on to say: \u201cThe compassionate one, <j>who sees the ending of rebirth, understands the path to convergence. By this path people crossed over before, will cross, and are crossing.\u201d","title":"Divinity","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":401}