1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in Ambapali's Grove. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus!"

"Venerable sir!" the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

2"Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell mindful and clearly comprehending: this is our instruction to you. [n.125] The same advice is at SN36.7 (IV 211,1–19). Spk comments at length on the practice of clear comprehension. For a translation see Soma, The Way of Mindfulness, pp. 83–132, and Bodhi, Discourse on the Fruits of Recluseship, pp. 96–134. Briefly, the four are: (1) clear comprehension of purpose-fulness (sātthaka-sampajañña), discerning a worthy purpose in one's intended action; (2) clear comprehension of suitability (sappāya-sampajañña), discerning a suitable means of achieving one's aim; (3) clear comprehension of the resort (gocara-sampajañña), maintaining awareness of one's meditation subject when engaged in various activities; and (4) clear comprehension as nondelusion (asammoha-sampajañña), discerning one's actions as conditioned processes devoid of a substantial self. For a good contemporary explanation, see Nyanaponika, The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, pp. 46–57.

"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu mindful? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is mindful.

3"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is one who acts with clear comprehension when going forward and returning; when looking ahead and looking aside; when drawing in and extending the limbs; when wearing his robes and carrying his outer robe and bowl; when eating, drinking, chewing his food, and tasting; when defecating and urinating; when walking, standing, sitting, falling asleep, waking up, speaking, and keeping silent. It is in such a way that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

"Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell mindful and clearly comprehending. This is our instruction to you."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ vihārati ambapālivane. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.

"Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

2"Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī vihārati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu … pe … citte … pe … dhammesu dhammānupassī vihārati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sato hoti.

3Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajāno hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu abhikkante paṭikkante sampajānakārī hoti, ālokite vilokite sampajānakārī hoti, samiñjite pasārite sampajānakārī hoti, saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇe sampajānakārī hoti, asite pīte khāyite sāyite sampajānakārī hoti, uccārapassāvakamme sampajānakārī hoti, gate ṭhite nisinne sutte jāgarite bhāsite tuṇhībhāve sampajānakārī hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sampajānakārī hoti.

Sato, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vihareyya sampajāno. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.