Mindful Kamma - A look at Satipatthana

A Draft used for notes in a talk given to the Aberdeen Buddhist Group (FWBO)
on
21st January 2009

Satipatthana has been translated as foundation of Mindfulness, and as Frames of reference, because it is a compound term which can be analysed and broken up in two different ways.  Sati-patthana ("foundation of mindfulness"), and sati-upatthana ("Frames of reference") or in another way “what forms Mindfulness” and “where mindfulness is placed”.  I prefer a translation of it Which includes both so use the term foundation of mindfulness with reference, on occasion.

Satipatthana is the part of the Eightfold path we know as Right Mindfulness but mindfulness according to Satipatthana at least is twofold because of the translations and the sutta itself. So lets look at aspects of the different translations meaning as the sutta puts it. 

Foundations of Mindfulness

"There is the case where a monk remains focused on the body feelings... mind... & mental qualities in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world.

These words or similar can also be found in the Anapanasati Sutta, Satipatthana Suttas, and any which describes the practice of Sati or mindfulness cultivation

There are four things repeated throughout the Satipatthana sutta, these being ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. 

“Ardent” means dedicated
“Alert” means watchful
“Mindful” means Remembered
“Putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world” means being on the eightfold path

So the Four Foundations are us being dedicated to watching the mind while recollecting what the object of meditation is while putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world or “Dedicated watchfulness of staying on the Middle Path”

Frames of Reference
The frames of reference are the Meditation Objects found in the Satipatthana Sutta
The Body, The Feelings, The Mind, and The Mental Objects, or Dhammas

How are we to know the Meditation Objects?

"In this way he remains focused internally on the  Body, The Feelings, The Mind, or The Mental Objects in & of itself, or externally on the Body, The Feelings, The Mind, or The Mental Objects in & of itself, or both internally & externally on the Body, The Feelings, The Mind, or The Mental Objects in & of itself. Or he remains focused on the phenomenon of origination with regard to the body….., on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to the body…., or on the phenomenon of origination & passing away with regard to the body….. Or his mindfulness that 'There is a body……' is maintained to the extent of knowledge & remembrance. And he remains independent, unsustained by (not clinging to) anything in the world. This is how a monk remains focused on the body…. in & of itself.

What are The Body, The Feelings, The Mind, and The Mental Objects in the Sutta? The body is this body the one we identify as being me, my, mine! The Feelings are this is pleasant, this is painful, or this is neither pleasant or painful, or the first reaction. The mind is this is love, this is greed, this is hate, this is envy, this is nice, this is distress, or the second reaction after we class it into a feeling.

The Mental Objects are this is a hindrance, this is clinging, this is sense object to do with the eye, ear, nose, taste, touch, and thought which arises and passes away, this is a factor of awakening be it Mindfulness, analysis of qualities, persistence, rapture, serenity, Concentration, & equanimity, this is a Noble Truth - this is Dukkha, and its origin, and its passing, and this is the Noble Eightfold Path of Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right concentration.

Well what does this have to do with Kamma? Satipatthana in its aspect of Frames of reference is bringing the foundations of mindfulness we cultivate outwards. With what ever we do we should be mindful, no matter what it is if we are mindful we do not do things on impulse, we reflect before, during, and after everything, we keep the precepts, and Metta present, the factors of Enlightenment grow and we become more and more liberated from the constraints of the world.

Meditation the Buddha taught isn't fancy breathing, or imagination, but seeing what is in THAT moment, reflecting on how things are in this reality, and living in a manner which is neither one extreme or the other, but is living in reality.