Six Recollections (Introduction)

1. [197] Now, ten recollections were listed next after the ten kinds of foulness (III.105). As to these:

Mindfulness (sati) itself is recollection (anussati) because it arises again and again; or alternatively, the mindfulness (sati) that is proper (anurūpa) for a clansman gone forth out of faith, since it occurs only in those instances where it should occur, is “recollection” (anussati).

The recollection arisen inspired by the Enlightened One is the recollection of the Buddha. This is a term for mindfulness with the Enlightened One’s special qualities as its object.

The recollection arisen inspired by the Law is the recollection of the Dhamma. [see note on the word dhamma] This is a term for mindfulness with the special qualities of the Law’s being well proclaimed, etc., as its object.

The recollection arisen inspired by the Community is the recollection of the Saṅgha. This is a term for mindfulness with the Community’s special qualities of being entered on the good way, etc., as its object.

The recollection arisen inspired by virtue is the recollection of virtue. This is a term for mindfulness with the special qualities of virtue’s untornness, etc., as its object.

The recollection arisen inspired by generosity is the recollection of generosity. This is a term for mindfulness with generosity’s special qualities of free generosity, etc., as its object.

The recollection arisen inspired by deities is the recollection of deities. This is a term for mindfulness with the special qualities of one’s own faith, etc., as its object with deities standing as witnesses.

The recollection arisen inspired by death is the recollection of death. This is a term for mindfulness with the termination of the life faculty as its object.

[Mindfulness occupied with the body (kāya-gatā sati—lit. “body-gone mindfulness”):] it is gone (gata) to the material body (kāya) that is analyzed into head hairs, etc., or it is gone into the body, thus it is “body-gone” (kāya-gatā). It is body-gone (kāya-gatā) and it is mindfulness (sati), thus it is “body-gonemindfulness” (kāyagatasati—single compound); but instead of shortening [the vowel] thus in the usual way, “body-gone mindfulness” (kāyagatā sati—compound adj. + noun) is said. This is a term for mindfulness that has as its object the sign of the bodily parts consisting of head hairs and the rest.

The mindfulness arisen inspired by breathing (ānāpāna) is mindfulness of breathing. This is a term for mindfulness that has as its object the sign of inbreaths and out-breaths.

The recollection arisen inspired by peace is the recollection of peace. This is a term that has as its object the stilling of all suffering.