Satipatthana Sutta Study

Dhammas: Sense Spheres

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[SENSE-SPHERES]

"Again, monks,
in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas
in terms of the six internal and external sense-spheres.
And how does s/he in regard to dhammas abide contemplating dhammas
in terms of the six internal and external sense-spheres?

Here s/he knows the eye,
s/he knows forms,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can be prevented.

S/He knows the ear,
s/he knows sounds,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can be prevented.

S/He knows the nose,
s/he knows odors,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can be prevented.

S/He knows the tongue,
s/he knows flavors,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can prevented.

S/He knows the body,
s/he knows tangibles,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can be prevented.

S/He knows the mind,
s/he knows mind-objects,
and s/he knows the fetter that arises dependent on both,
and s/he also knows how an unarisen fetter can arise,
how an arisen fetter can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed fetter can be prevented."


[REFRAIN]

"In this way,
in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas internally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas externally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing in dhammas.

Mindfulness that 'there are dhammas
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That is how in regard to dhammas
s/he abides contemplating dhammas in terms of the five hindrances.

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Satipatthana Sutta Study - © 2005 Mary Rees
Sutta text modified from translation by Analayo. Please see his original translation and excellent commentary: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003.