2) Sutta Selections

1. Sati
   1. SN 48.10
      -Click for excerpt-
      And what is the faculty of mindfulness? It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.” 
   2. DN 22 
      -Click for excerpt-
      And what is right mindfulness? There is the case where a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. He remains focused on feelings in & of themselves… the mind in & of itself… mental qualities in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. This is called right mindfulness.
2. Sampajañña
   1. SN 47.35 
      -Click for excerpt-
      And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

Review (Click text for answer)

• How does the Buddha define the 'faculty of mindfulness' in SN 48.10?
  It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. This is called the faculty of mindfulness.
• How does the Buddha define 'right mindfulness' in DN 22?
  There is the case where a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. He remains focused on feelings in & of themselves… the mind in & of itself… mental qualities in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world.
• How does the Buddha's definition of the 'faculty of mindfulness' in SN 48.10 differ from his definition of 'right mindfulness' in DN 22?
  Suggestion – In defining the ‘faculty of mindfulness’ the Buddha points to the aspect of sati which involves memory. In defining ‘right mindfulness’, the Buddha highlights the knowing, alert, and balanced aspects of sati.
• What are the three aspects of mind which the Buddha suggests can be objects for cultivating clear comprehension in SN 47.35?
  Exercising clear comprehension in understanding: 1. feelings; 2. thoughts, and ; 3. perceptions.
• What are the phenomena which clear comprehension is to understand regarding feelings, thoughts, and perceptions as explained in SN 47.35?
  Their arising, their remaining present, and their passing away.

3) Ancient Commentary

1. Sati
   1. “Sati has the sense of establishment (upaṭṭhāna)” [Visuddhimagga]
2. Sampajañña (4 types) [Commentary to the Sāmaññaphala Sutta]
   1. Clear Comprehension as to Purpose (Pāli: sātthaka): refraining from activities irrelevant to the path.
   2. Clear Comprehension as to Suitability (sappāya): pursuing activities in a dignified and careful manner.
   3. Clear Comprehension as to Domain (gocara):[12] maintaining sensory restraint consistent with mindfulness.
   4. Clear Comprehension as to Non-delusion (asammoha): seeing the true nature of reality.

Review (Click text for answer)

• How does the Visuddhimagga define mindfulness?
  sati has the sense of establishment
• What are the fours types of clear comprehension enumerated in the Commentary to the Sāmaññaphala Sutta?
  1. Clear comprehension as to purpose; 2. Clear comprehension as to suitability; 3. Clear comprehension as to domain; 4. Clear comprehension as to non-delusion

4) Modern Commentary

1. Sati
   1. Bhante Nyanaponika “The Power of Mindfulness”
      -Click for excerpt-
      Is mindfulness actually a power in its own right as claimed by the title of this essay? Seen from the viewpoint of the ordinary pursuits of life, it does not seem so. From that angle mindfulness, or attention, has a rather modest place among many other seemingly more important mental faculties serving the purpose of variegated wish-fulfillment. Here, mindfulness means just “to watch one’s steps” so that one may not stumble or miss a chance in the pursuit of one’s aims. Only in the case of specific tasks and skills is mindfulness sometimes cultivated more deliberately, but here too it is still regarded as a subservient function, and its wider scope and possibilities are not recognized.
   2. Ajahn Sumedho “Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless”
      -Click for excerpt-
      Mindfulness is taught in many different ways, but in this book, and through a teaching career of more than 35 years, Ajahn Sumedho has introduced it in a way that encourages personal enquiry and reflection rather than a highly technical system. He fleshes out this approach with details of his own practice and the good humour born of kindness and non-attachment.
   3. Ajahn Thanissaro “Mindfulness Defined”
      -Click for excerpt-
      What does it mean to be mindful of the breath? Something very simple: to keep the breath in mind. Keep remembering the breath each time you breathe in, each time you breathe out. The British scholar who coined the term “mindfulness” to translate the Pali word sati was probably influenced by the Anglican prayer to be ever mindful of the needs of others—in other words, to always keep their needs in mind. But even though the word “mindful” was probably drawn from a Christian context, the Buddha himself defined sati as the ability to remember, illustrating its function in meditation practice with the four satipatthanas, or establishings of mindfulness.
   4. Extra: Bhante Gunaratana
      -Click for excerpt-
      The subject of this book is Vipassana meditation practice. Repeat, practice. This is a meditation manual, a nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step guide to Insight meditation. It is meant to be practical. It is meant for use.
2. Sampajañña
   1. VRI article
      -Click for excerpt-
      In this paper, we will discuss how sampajañña is explained by the Buddha in the suttas and how the term can be correctly translated into English.

Review (Click text for answer)

• How could one summarize Venerable Nyanaponika's view on mindfulness?
  Suggestion – Ven. Nyanaponika says ‘Mindfulness means just “to watch one’s steps” so that one may not stumble or miss a chance in the pursuit of one’s aims.’
• Is Ajahn Sumedho's approach to mindfulness concerned more with specific technique or with personal reflection?
  Suggestion – from the text we read: ‘Ajahn Sumedho has introduced [mindfulness] in a way that encourages personal enquiry and reflection rather than a highly technical system.’
• How could one summarize Ajahn Thanissaro's view on mindfulness?
  Suggestion – Ajahn Thanissaro’s summarizes mindfulness as the ability to remember to keep something in mind.
• What is the extended definition of sampajañña used by the Vipassana Research Institute (VRI)?
  ‘constant thorough understanding of impermanence’

5) Relevant Dhamma Talks

1. Sati
   1. Sumedho “Mindfulness”
   2. Sucitto “Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension”
2. Sampajañña
   1. Jayasaro “Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension”
   2. Pasanno “Four Aspects of Clear Comprehension”

6) External Links

1. Sati
   1. Wikipedia – sati
   2. Encyclopedia of Buddhism – sati
2. Sampajañña
   1. Wikipedia – sampajañña
   2. Encyclopedia of Buddhism – sampajañña