4.2.3. Faculty of Mindfulness (Satindriya or Smṛti)

[Full title: The Five Faculties (pañcindriyani; Sanskrit: indriya)—Faculty of Mindfulness (Satindriya or Smṛti)]

The sati is explained in the Āpaṇa sutta of Saṃyutta Nikāya under the following:

It is indeed to be expected, venerable sir, that a noble disciple who has faith, and whose effort is roused, will bemindful,having supreme mindfulness and discretion, one who remembers, who re-collects what was done long ago, what was said long ago.

That mindfulness of his, Sāriputta, is his faculty of mindfulness.^[1]

The Vibhaṅga sutta explains satindriya like this:

Here the noble disciple has mindfulness, he possessed of the highest mindfulness and awareness; he is one who remembers and recalls what was done and said long before.^[2]

Further, Saṃyutta Nikāya mentioned in connection with vīriyindriya, likewise simply refer to the four satipaṭṭhānas when explaining satindriya:

In respect of the four foundations of mindfulness–here is the faculty of mindfulness to be seen.^[3]

The mindfulness which he acquires having produced the four foundations of mindfulness, this is called the faculty of mindfulness.^[4]

The four foundations of mindfulness are following:

1. Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna

During mundane practice of mindfulness foundation previous to the Noble Path these four kinds of satipaṭṭhānadhammas are available in various consciousnesses. It is right;

(a) Bodily constituents (rūpakāya) are distinguished and kept in mind through specific kind of consciousness, other than the consciousness which is factor of keeping feeling etc., in mind.

(b) Various kinds of feeling are distinguished and kept in mind through specific kind of consciousness, other than the consciousness which is factor of keeping bodily constituents (rūpakāya) in mind.

(c) Various kinds of consciousness are distinguished and kept in mind through specific kind of consciousness, other than the consciousness which is factor of keeping bodily constituents (rūpakāya) in mind.

(d) Various principles of dhammas are distinguished and kept in mind through specific kind of consciousness, other than the consciousness which is factor of keeping Bodily constituents (rūpakāya) in mind.

2. Vedanānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna

The mindfulness which associates with practicing person’s vipassanā knowledge which has achieved through distinguishing on feeling (vedanā) as beginning is called vedanānupassanā (contemplation on feeling). That practicing person, who has got mindfulness associating with vipassanā knowledge, is called vedanānupassī. At the arising phase of noble path-knowledge of practicing person, who performs vipassanā practice successively and who just reaches into the noble path-knowledge, the mindfulness which associates with the noble path-knowledge is called vedanānupassanā. The practicing person who has got that mindfulness is called vedanānupassī.

3. Cittānupassanā satipaṭṭhāna

The meaning which associates with practicing person’s vipassanā knowledge which has achieved through distinguishing on consciousness as beginning is called cittānupassanā (contemplation on consciousness).

That practicing person, who has got mindfulness associating with vipassanā knowledge, is called cittānupassī. At the arising phase of noble path-knowledge of practicing person, who performs vipassanā practice successively and who just reaches into the noble path-knowledge, the mindfulness which associates with the noble path -knowledge is called cittānupassanā. The practicing person who has got that mindfulness is called cittānupassī.

4. Dhammanupassanā satipaṭṭhāna

The mindfulness which associates with practicing person’s vipassanā knowledge which has achieved through distinguishing on dhamma phenomena as beginning is called dhammānupassanā (contemplation on dhamma phenomena). That practicing person, who has got mindfulness associating with vipassanā knowledge, is called dhammānupassī. At the arising phase of noble path-knowledge of practicing person, who performs vipassanā practice successively and who just reaches into the noble path-knowledge, the mindfulness which associates with the noble path=knowledge is called dhammānupassanā. The practicing person who has got that mindfulness is called dhammānupassī.

kattha satindriyaṃ daṭṭhabbaṃ? Catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu ettha satiṅdriyaṃ daṭṭhabbaṃ.

Where should one look for the faculty of mindfulness? One should look for it in the four foundations of mindfulness.

Lay persons and bhikkhus who profess to be followers of the Buddha can know whether or not the unsettledness and turbulence of their minds in the matter of sati (mindfulness) have disappeared, and whether or not they are thus persons who have obtained mastery over their minds, only when they arrive at the four constituents of the satipaṭṭhāna. If the attention can be kept fixed on any part of the body, such as out-breath and in-breath, by the successful practice of mindfull body contemplation (kāyagatā-sati) for as long as is desired, then it must be recognised as the control exercised by mindfulness (sati). The unsettledness and turbulence of the mind of such a person have disappeared. He is one who has obtained mastery over his mind.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

SN 48.50/V, p. 225

[2]:

SN V, p. 197

[3]:

SN V, p. 196

[4]:

SN V, p. 200