This set of slides is from the Satipatthana Workshop conducted by Venerable Aggacitta at Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary between July 26-29, 2012. Permission is given to redistribute without any modifications, for non-commercial purposes only.

1. Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
Study with Meditation
Workshop Part 2.2
Summary & Conclusion
●Samādhi & Satipaṭṭhāna
● 4 Noble Truths
5
● Comparison of Satipaṭṭhāna Contents
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2. Samādhi & Satipaṭṭhāna
1) Kāyagatāsati Sutta (MN 119) states that all
the 14 exercises in kāyānupassanā together
with the 4 jhānas lead to samādhi
2) This contrasts with the vipassanā refrain that
follows each exercise in Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
3) Extracts from Janavasabha Sutta (DN 18) and
Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) confirm that the 4
satipaṭṭhānas lead to samādhi
4) Samādhi·bhāvanā Sutta (AN 4:41) shows that
there are 4 types of samādhi
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3. Samādhi & Satipaṭṭhāna
5) Vitakka·saṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20) shows that all
the 5 methods of stilling distracting thoughts
lead to samādhi
6) In light of these instances, to translate
samādhi as “concentration” or “one-pointed-
ness of mind” may be misleading
7) Thus, the preferred translation for samādhi is
“composure” or “focused state of mind”
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4. Samādhi & Satipaṭṭhāna
8) The Visuddhimagga’s definition of worldly
jhāna as “absorption in a conceptual object
oblivious of the 5 senses” contradicts the
descriptions of jhānas in the suttas, where the
5 senses, especially the body, have not been
transcended
9) The Visuddhimagga jhāna is based on a con-
ceptual object, but the sutta jhāna is defined
according to mental state, not object of focus
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5. 4 Noble Truths
1) Suffering (=1st NT) is to be fully known by
developing the 4th NT = Noble Eightfold Path
2) Fully knowing the 1st NT entails discovering its
cause, craving (=2nd NT), and simultaneously
abandoning it
3) With the abandoning of craving, the cessation
of suffering (3rd NT) is realised
4) Developing N8P is often portrayed as a linear
process in the suttas, but in reality it is more
complex, involving multiple feedback loops
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6. Comparison of Satipaṭṭhāna Contents
1) The variations in the 7 major texts are very
obvious in kāyānupassanā & dhammānu-
passanā
2) The rule of thumb is to regard the common
elements as the more authentic
3) Comparison with the 7 major texts is only one
of the criteria for Ajahn Sujāto to make his
reconstruction of what the “original (Mūla)”
Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta could have been like
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7. For Final Discussion
What are the significant
insights for understanding
and practice resulting from
this workshop?
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