1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as whatever strenuous deeds are done, are all done based upon the earth, established upon the earth,

so too, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness.

i. based upon seclusion

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness?

"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,
- which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness."

ii. removal of lust

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness?

"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,
- which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness."

iii. the Deathless

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness?

"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,
- which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness."

iv. towards Nibbāna

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four establishments of mindfulness?

"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,
- which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world,
- which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four establishments of mindfulness."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti; …

Paṭhamaṁ.