Satipatthana Sutta: The Discourse on the Arousing of Mindfulness

Soma Thera

Thus have I heard.

At one time the Blessed One was living in the Kurus, at Kammasadamma, a market-town of the Kuru people.

Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus as follows: “This is the only way, O bhikkhus, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely, the Four Arousings of Mindfulness.”

The Four Arousings of Mindfulness

“What are the four?

“Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending (it) and mindful (of it), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating the feelings in the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending (them) and mindful (of them), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness, ardent, clearly comprehending (it) and mindful (of it), having overcome in this world covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects, ardent, clearly comprehending (them) and mindful (of them), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief.”

Mindfulness of Breathing

And how, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating the body in the body?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty place, sits down, bends in his legs crosswise on his lap, keeps his body erect, and arouses mindfulness in the object of meditation, namely, the breath which is in front of him.

“Mindful, he breathes in, and mindful, he breathes out. He, thinking, ‘I breathe in long,’ he understands when he is breathing in long; or thinking, ‘I breathe out long,’ he understands when he is breathing out long; or thinking, ‘I breathe in short,’ he understands when he is breathing in short; or thinking, ‘I breathe out short,’ he understands when he is breathing out short.

“‘Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in,’ thinking thus, he trains himself. ‘Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out,’ thinking thus, he trains himself. ‘Calming the activity of the body, I shall breathe in,’ thinking thus, he trains himself. ‘Calming the activity of the body, I shall breathe out,’ thinking thus, he trains himself.

“Just as a clever turner or a turner’s apprentice, turning long, understands: ‘I turn long’; or turning short, understands: ‘I turn short’; just so, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, when he breathes in long, understands: ‘I breathe in long’; or, when he breathes out long, understands: ‘I breathe out long’; or, when he breathes in short, he understands: ‘I breathe in short’; or when he breathes out short, he understands: ‘I breathe out short.’ He trains himself with the thought: ‘Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in.’ He trains himself with the thought: ‘Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out.’ He trains himself with the thought: ‘Calming the activity of the body I shall breathe in.’ He trains himself with the thought: ‘Calming the activity of the body I shall breathe out.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought: ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world. Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

The Modes of Deportment

“And further, O bhikkhus, when he is going, a bhikkhu understands: ‘I am going’; when he is standing, he understands: ‘I am standing’; when he is sitting, he understands: ‘I am sitting’; when he is lying down, he understands: ‘I am lying down’; or just as his body is disposed so he understands it.

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things, in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought: ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.” Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

The Four Kinds of Clear Comprehension

“And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, in going forwards (and) in going backwards, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in looking straight on (and) in looking away from the front, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in bending and in stretching, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in wearing the shoulder-cloak, the (other two) robes (and) the bowl, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in regard to what is eaten, drunk, chewed and savored, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in defecating and in urinating, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in walking, in standing (in a place), in sitting (in some position), in sleeping, in waking, in speaking and in keeping silence, is a person practicing clear comprehension.

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world. Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

The Reflection on the Repulsiveness of the Body

“And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body hemmed by the skin and full of manifold impurity from the soles up, and from the top of the hair down, thinking thus: ‘There are in this body hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, fibrous threads (veins, nerves, sinews, tendons), bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, contents of stomach, intestines, mesentery, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, solid fat, tars, fat dissolved, saliva, mucus, synovic fluid, urine.’

“Just as if, O bhikkhus, there were a bag having two openings, full of grain differing in kind, namely, hill-paddy, paddy, green-gram, cow-pea, sesamum, rice; and a man with seeing eyes, having loosened it, should reflect thinking thus: ‘This is hill paddy; this is paddy, this is green-gram; this is cow-pea; this is sesamum; this is rice.’ In the same way, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body hemmed in by the skin and full of manifold impurity from the soles up, and from the top of the hair down, thinking thus: ‘There are in this body: hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, fibrous threads (veins, nerves, sinews, tendons), bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, contents of the stomach, intestines, mesentery, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, solid fat, tears, fat dissolved, saliva, mucus, synovic fluid, urine.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body, internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

The Reflection on the Modes of Materiality (Elements, Dhatu)

“And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body according as it is placed or disposed, by way of the modes of materiality, thinking thus: ‘There are in this body the mode of solidity, the mode of cohesion, the mode of caloricity, and the mode of oscillation.’

“O bhikkhus, in whatever manner, a clever cow-butcher or a cow-butcher’s apprentice, having slaughtered a cow and divided it by way of portions, should be sitting at the junction of a four-cross-road; in the same manner, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body, according as it is placed or disposed, by way of the modes of materiality, thinking thus: ‘There are in this body the mode of solidity, the mode of cohesion, the mode of caloricity, and the mode of oscillation.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 1

“And further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body dead, one, two, or three days: swollen, blue and festering, thrown into the charnel ground, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine too is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 2

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees, whilst it is being eaten by crows, hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals or by different kinds of worms, a body that had been thrown into the charnel ground, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent, and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 3

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body, thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a skeleton together with (some) flesh and blood held in by the tendons, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally.

“He lives contemplating origination-things in the body or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed, his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent, and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 4

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a blood-besmeared skeleton without flesh but held in by the tendons, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 5

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a skeleton held in by the tendons but without flesh and not besmeared with blood, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mind, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 6

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones gone loose, scattered in all directions — a bone of the hand, a bone of the foot, a shin bone, a thigh bone, the pelvis, spine and skull, each in a different place — he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 7

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones, white in color like a conch, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 8

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones more than a year old, heaped together, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

Cemetery Contemplation 9

“And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones gone rotten and become dust, he thinks of his own body thus: ‘This body of mine too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.’

“Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body.”

The Contemplation of Feeling

“And how, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating feeling in feelings?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu when experiencing a pleasant feeling, understands: ‘I experience a pleasant feeling’; when experiencing a painful feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a painful feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful feeling’; when experiencing a pleasant worldly feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a pleasant worldly feeling’; when experiencing a pleasant spiritual feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a pleasant spiritual feeling’; when experiencing a painful worldly feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a painful worldly feeling’; when experiencing a painful spiritual feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a painful spiritual feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful worldly feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful worldly feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful spiritual feeling, he understands: ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful spiritual feeling.’

“Thus he lives contemplating feelings in feelings internally, or he lives contemplating feeling in feelings externally, or he lives contemplating feeling in feelings internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in feelings, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in feelings, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in feelings. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought: ‘Feeling exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating feeling in feelings.”

The Contemplation of Consciousness

“And how, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating consciousness in consciousness?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands the consciousness with lust, as with lust; the consciousness without lust, as without lust; the consciousness with hate, as with hate; the consciousness without hate, as without hate; the consciousness with ignorance, as with ignorance; the consciousness without ignorance, as without ignorance; the shrunken state of consciousness, as the shrunken state; the distracted state of consciousness, as the distracted state; the state of consciousness become great, as the state become great; the state of consciousness not become great, as the state not become great; the state of consciousness with some other mental state superior to it, as the state with something mentally higher; the state of consciousness with no other mental state superior to it, as the state with nothing mentally higher; the quieted state of consciousness, as the quieted state; the state of consciousness not quieted, as the state not quieted; the freed state of consciousness as freed; and the unfreed state of consciousness, as unfreed.

“Thus he lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness internally, or he lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness externally, or he lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in consciousness, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in consciousness, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in consciousness. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought: ‘Consciousness exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness.”

The Contemplation on Mental Objects

1. The Five Hindrances

“And how, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental objects in mental objects?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the mental objects in the mental objects of the five hindrances.

“How, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the five hindrances?

“Here, O bhikkhus, when sensuality is present, a bhikkhu knows with understanding: ‘I have sensuality,’ or when sensuality is not present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have no sensuality.’ He understands how the arising of the non-arisen sensuality comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen sensuality comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned sensuality comes to be. When anger is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have anger,’ or when anger is not present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have no anger.’ He understands how the arising of the non-arisen anger comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen anger comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned anger comes to be. When sloth and torpor are present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have sloth and torpor,’ or when sloth and torpor are not present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have no sloth and torpor.’ He understands how the arising of non-arisen sloth and torpor comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen sloth and torpor comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned sloth and torpor comes to be. When agitation and worry are present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have agitation and worry,’ or when agitation and worry are not present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have no agitation and worry.’ He understands how the arising of non-arisen agitation and worry comes to be; and he understands how the abandoning of the arisen agitation and worry comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned agitation and worry comes to be. When doubt is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have doubt,’ or when doubt is not present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have no doubt.’ He understands how the arising of non-arisen doubt comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen doubt comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned doubt comes to be.

“Thus he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects, internally, or he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects, externally, or he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects, internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in mental objects, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in mental objects, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in mental objects. Or his mind is established with the thought: ‘Mental objects exist,’ to the extent necessary for just knowledge and remembrance and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the five hindrances.”

2. The Five Aggregates of Clinging

“And, further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the five aggregates of clinging.

“How, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the five aggregates of clinging?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu thinks: ‘Thus is material form; thus is the arising of material form; and thus is the disappearance of material form. Thus is feeling; thus is the arising of feeling; and thus is the disappearance of feeling. Thus is perception; thus is the arising of perception; and thus is the disappearance of perception. Thus are the formations; thus is the arising of the formations; and thus is the disappearance of the formations. Thus is consciousness; thus is the arising of consciousness; and thus is the disappearance of consciousness.’

Thus he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects, internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the five aggregates of clinging.”

3. The Six Internal and the Six External Sense-bases

“And, further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the six internal and the six external sense-bases.

“How, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the six internal and the six external sense-bases?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands the eye and material forms and the fetter that arises dependent on both (eye and forms); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be. He understands the ear and sounds and the fetter that arises dependent on both (ear and sounds); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be. He understands the organ of smell and odors and the fetter that arises dependent on both (the organ of smell and odors); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be. He understands the organ of taste and flavors and the fetter that arises dependent on both (the organ of taste and flavors); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be. He understands the organ of touch and tactual objects and the fetter that arises dependent on both (the organ of touch and tactual objects); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be. He understands consciousness and mental objects and the fetter that arises dependent on both (consciousness and mental objects); he understands how the arising of the non-arisen fetter comes to be; he understands how the abandoning of the arisen fetter comes to be; and he understands how the non-arising in the future of the abandoned fetter comes to be.

“Thus he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects, internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the six internal and the six externally sense-bases.”

4. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

“And, further, o bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment.”

“How, o bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment?”

“Here, o bhikkhus, when the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is present, a bhikkhu knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of mindfulness’; or when the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of mindfulness’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects’; when the enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects comes to be and how the completion of culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of the investigation of mental objects comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of energy is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of energy’; when the enlightenment factor of energy is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of energy’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of energy comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of energy comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of joy is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of joy’; when the enlightenment factor of joy is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of joy’; and he understands how the rising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of joy comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of joy comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of calm is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of calm’; when the enlightenment factor of calm is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of calm’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of calm comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of calm comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of concentration is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of concentration’; when the enlightenment factor of concentration is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of concentration’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of concentration comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of concentration comes to be. When the enlightenment factor of equanimity is present, he knows with understanding: ‘I have the enlightenment factor of equanimity’; when the enlightenment factor of equanimity is absent, he knows with understanding: ‘I have not the enlightenment factor of equanimity’; and he understands how the arising of the non-arisen enlightenment factor of equanimity comes to be and how the completion by culture of the arisen enlightenment factor of equanimity comes to be.

“Thus he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects internally… and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the seven factors of enlightenment.”

5. The Four Truths

“And, further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the Four Noble Truths.

“How, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the Four Noble Truths?

“Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands: ‘This is suffering,’ according to reality; he understands: ‘This is the origin of suffering,’ according to reality; he understands: ‘This is the cessation of suffering,’ according to reality; and he understands: ‘This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering,’ according to realty.

“Thus he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects internally or he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects externally, or he lives contemplating mental object in mental objects internally and externally.”

“He lives contemplating origination things in mental objects, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in mental objects, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in mental objects, or his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘Mental objects exist,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.

“Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating mental object in the mental objects of the Four Noble Truths.”

Assurance of Attainment

“O bhikkhus, should any person maintain the Four Arousings of Mindfulness in this manner for seven years, then by him one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge (arahantship) here and now; or, if some form of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning (the Third Stage of Supramundane Fulfillment).

“O bhikkhus, let alone seven years. Should a person maintain these Four Arousings of Mindfulness, in this manner, for six years… for five years… four years… three years… two years… one year, then by him one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

“O bhikkhus, let alone a year. Should any person maintain these Four Arousings of Mindfulness, in the manner, for seven months, then by him one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

“O bhikkhus, let alone seven months. Should any person maintain these Four Arousings of Mindfulness in this manner for six months… five months… four months… three months… two months… one month… half-a-month, then, by him one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

“O bhikkhus, let alone half-a-month. Should any person maintain these Four Arousings of Mindfulness in this manner for a week, then by him one of two fruitions is proper to be expected: Knowledge here and now; or, if some form of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

“Because of this was it said: ‘This is the only way, O bhikkhus, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely, the Four Arousings of Mindfulness.”

Thus spoke the Blessed One. Satisfied, the bhikkhus approved of his words.

Fragments on Love

Martine Batchelor 

Human beings are endowed with the capacity and the ability to love. For love to happen we need to be able to recognize the other, to relate to the other. Love necessitates connection. It requires of us that we see something or someone beyond us. It is easy for us to be locked into our inner world: our emotions, our thoughts, our sensations, our body, our mind, our problems. Because we identify so much with the conditions that make us we often limit ourselves to these. We become locked inside ourselves and are the poorer for it. We feel isolated and separate. One dimension of ourselves is indeed of aloneness. Nobody can feel our pain or our problems for us. However, through the breath, the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the medicines we take, the houses we inhabit, we are inevitably and intimately connected to the whole world. We are inescapably alone with others.

Love is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and others. In love the self expands and becomes open to experiences from the outside. We go beyond ourselves to what is other, to what we do not know for certain. But in the continuation and the growth of love we come to know intimately what is other. In that knowledge and intimacy comes acceptance and trust. For love to grow beyond the initial attraction, we have to learn to accept the other fully as they are. If our love is conditional and compartmentalised, then trust will not be able to develop. This is the greatest gift of love — acceptance leading to trust. The power of trust resides in the fact that through it, self and other can develop together and separately. Love does not make us become one with what is loved or merge with the other but makes us stand and walk together in harmony and in growth. It allows us to share a nurturing space.

Love is a feeling for, an awareness and an appreciation of the other. Love is possible because we have feelings and emotions. But these feelings and emotions can be positive or negative. It is the same with love. It can be a positive force or a negative one. It is negative when it leads us to more grasping. Because the feelings of love are so beautiful we want them to last. Because we feel that they are being created by the presence of the other we want to be with the other constantly. In doing that we limit them and ourselves. Love is positive when it helps us to be more open and spacious. When we realise that there is no limit to it. The more we love, the more we can love and share that love with others.

Awareness is an essential factor in wise loving — awareness of the other as another being who is alive and is breathing just like us, and also just like us wants to be happy, loved and accepted. It is also an awareness that the other is not an extension of ourselves but that we are walking together on this earth, sharing the same air. Love is also a recognition and appreciation of the other not so much in terms of what they bring to us but in terms of their whole being. We are grateful that they are alive, participating in the dance of life as we are.

At the root of love there is liking but if love is only based on liking this will limit its influence and power. One essential aspect of love is care and respect which does not necessitate liking and attraction but an intimate response and connection to life. We care and respect life because we are part of it. A love of life is an universal love which is wider than loving one person. Although loving one person can help you to open up to universal love. In love there is also compassion which is feeling with. We are aware of the suffering of another person and we respond to that. We are not indifferent to it. In compassion there is a passion for life rooted in awareness and response.

In love there is affection, warmth and contact which can have a healing effect. There is a physical, emotional, mental sharing. We come into contact with others. We affect them and they affect us. Love can influence us greatly, it can help us soften what is fixed. It can help us open what is closed. It can be a creative force in our life. In coming close to others we are enriched by their natures and in turn they are enriched by us. Something new can come out of this intimate sharing. In love there is also passion which is full of energy and excitement. This will invigorate us and is often associated with a deep feeling of joy.

Some of the obstacles to love are our agenda, expectations, needs and wants. We have to be careful that in love we are not looking for ourselves, for a replica; nobody can be exactly like us. Love can help us discover our differences so that we can become enriched by them.

Budismo pragmático

De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Budismo pragmático es un subconjunto de la doctrina budista que deja de lado creencias y rituales y aboga por la práctica continua de las Enseñanzas del Buda (Dhamma en Pali, Dharma en Sánscrito) con el único propósito de eliminar el sufrimiento y permitir el surgimiento de la paz interior y la armonía.

Contenido

• 1 Budismo y pragmatismo
• 2 Cuatro verdades nobles y diez indeterminados
• 3 Semántica
• 4 La simplificación del budismo
• 5 La esencia del budismo pragmático
• 6 Grupos y organizaciones
• 7 Budismo pragmático y espiritualidad
• 8 Referencias

Budismo y pragmatismo

En el sentido más amplio de la palabra, el Budismo es una religión y un sistema filosófico propuestos originalmente por Siddhattha Gotama (en Pali; Siddhartha Gautama en Sánscrito), el Buda, en el noreste de la India en el siglo VI a. C. Como religión, la cuarta más grande del mundo, tiene tres escuelas principales (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana) y docenas de ramificaciones. Por el énfasis mayor que coloca en la introspección y en los estados mentales, hay numerosos eruditos que también consideran al Budismo como una corriente de psicología en vez de (o además de) un credo religioso o una escuela de filosofía.

El adjetivo “pragmático” describe a una persona que siempre utiliza un enfoque práctico hacia los problemas y asuntos de la vida diaria; para tal persona, la verdad es aquello que funciona y produce resultados. Las normas y los comportamientos deben ir de la mano y tener consecuencias beneficiosas; por lo tanto, la teoría y la práctica no deben pertenecer a dominios diferentes. La palabra “pragmático” proviene del griego pragmatikos que significa “versado en asuntos de negocios”.

El budismo pragmático, la combinación de los dos términos, es una manera de vivir. De acuerdo con Stephen Batchelor y S. N. Goenka, entre un número creciente de eruditos, el Buda no pretendió fundar una religión cuando originalmente desarrolló su doctrina. De hecho, las Enseñanzas del Buda preceden a la palabra “religión”, en el sentido que tiene en el mundo contemporáneo, en no menos de cinco siglos. Adicionalmente, puesto que excluyen creencias y rituales, dos componentes fundamentales de cualquier credo, el budismo pragmático no puede ser considerado como a religión.

Cuatro verdades nobles y diez indeterminados

Aunque la palabra pragmatismo fue acuñada por el filósofo norteamericano Charles S. Peirce veinticuatro siglos después del tiempo del Buda, el sabio de la India fue en verdad pragmático cuando consideró como cierto y provechoso todo aquello que contribuyera a la cesación del sufrimiento y, recíprocamente, como inútil o perjudicial aquellos comportamientos que llevan al sufrimiento o desvían del camino que conduce a su eliminación. Dos parágrafos que aparecen en muchos de los discursos del Buda proveen bases muy sólidas para considerar sus Enseñanzas como pragmáticas. El primero, el resumen más breve del propósito de toda la doctrina, es la declaración misma de sus cuatro nobles verdades:1 “Yo solamente enseño la realidad del sufrimiento, el origen del sufrimiento, la cesación del sufrimiento, y el camino hacia la cesación del sufrimiento”. Durante sus correrías de predicación el Buda repitió estas frase (o expresó el mismo significado que está implicado en ellas) centenares de veces.

El segundo parágrafo son las respuestas que ofrece el Buda a un discípulo suyo que le exigía claridad acerca de varios temas inciertos relacionados con la naturaleza del cosmos, la inmanencia del alma y la existencia de los budas después de su muerte. Dice Siddhattha Gotama entonces: “En la discusión de cualquier hipótesis sobre temas sobrenaturales —sean ellos la eternidad o finitud del universo, la existencia o inexistencia del alma, su inmortalidad o su desaparición, el renacimiento o la reencarnación— la afirmación o negación de cualquier posición acerca de tales temas es solamente un manojo de opiniones, un desierto de opiniones, una manipulación de opiniones que de ninguna forma conducen a la cesación del sufrimiento”. En otras palabras, las únicas nociones importantes para el Buda son aquellas pocas cosas que contribuyen al fin del sufrimiento; cualquier acción o discusión que no vaya en esa dirección es una pérdida completa de tiempo.

El Buda pronunció palabras similares, que Stephen Batchelor considera no solo pragmáticas sino también agnósticas (ver agnosticismo), en muchos otros discursos. El enunciado completo consiste de diez declaraciones (cuatro acerca del universo, dos acerca de la relación cuerpo-alma y cuatro acerca del destino de los budas después de la muerte) están identificadas en la literatura budista como los “diez indeterminados” (también conocidos como “puntos no declarados” o “preguntas sin respuesta”). Aunque ellas son abstractas y pomposas, posible consecuencia de las dificultades de traducción del pali a los idiomas occidentales, los diez indeterminados puntualizan que las nociones de la eternidad e infinitud del universo, la existencia de esencias inmateriales asociadas con los fenómenos vitales y el renacimiento o reencarnación de los seres vivos (en este concepto los discursos se refieren específicamente al renacimiento de los budas) son inciertos e imposibles de colocar dentro de un marco racional. (La noción de “Dios” no aparece en la lista de indeterminados pero un razonamiento similar bien podría aplicarse al concepto de Divinidad).

Las Enseñanzas del Buda son pragmáticas, dice el erudito budista anglo-alemán Edward Conze, porque ellas evitan las especulaciones y apuntan únicamente a los hábitos y prácticas que conducen a la cesación del sufrimiento. Escribe Conze:4 “El pensamiento budista se mueve en la dirección de lo que llamamos pragmatismo. El valor de un concepto debe juzgarse por aquello que pueda hacerse con tal concepto, por la calidad de vida que resulta de él.”

Para todos los budistas, sean pragmáticos o no, las cuatro nobles verdades son las únicas verdades necesarias —las únicas útiles—. Recta opinión (también denominada recto entendimiento, recta conocimiento o recta suposición), el primer hábito del camino noble o camino intermedio, es la comprensión de las cuatro verdades nobles. El erudito vietnamita budista Thich Nhat Hahn5 define recta opinión como la ausencia de opiniones. (La cita exacta es: “Recta suposición es la ausencia de suposiciones”). El fin del sufrimiento, la meta final y única del budismo pragmático, resulta de la comprensión de las cuatro verdades nobles, del reconocimiento de su necesidad imperiosa y de la experiencia directa de ellas. Cuando el sufrimiento se acaba, la armonía y la paz interior florecen espontáneamente.

S. N. Goenka, fundador de los Centros de Meditación Vipassana, repite con frecuencia que, mientras el budismo es ciertamente una religión, las Enseñanzas no lo son. Goenka enfatiza que “el Buda nunca enseñó una religión o una doctrina sectaria; el enseñó el “Dhamma”—el camino hacia la liberación— que es universal.” La pregunta que surge entonces es qué tan apropiado es utilizar la palabra “budismo” cuando estamos recortando el tamaño descomunal de los textos budistas hasta el volumen reducido de la esencia del “budismo pragmático” o, en otras palabras, qué clase de budismo es uno que no es una religión. Jiddu Krishnamurti, el filósofo hindú del siglo XX, cuyo pensamiento se asimila frecuentemente con el del Buda, dijo en alguna ocasión:6 “Nadie escuchó al Buda; es por eso que existe el budismo.”

Semántica

La palabra “budismo” es una invención de los eruditos occidentales, sostiene Stephen Batchelor.7 La palabra “budista” no existe en el idioma tibetano, dice Lama Surya Das. De acuerdo con este autor y monje budista norteamericano, los tibetanos usan un término aproximadamente equivalente a “interiorizador” (alguien que mira hacia el interior para buscar el significado de la existencia), cuando ellos quieren referirse a lo que nosotros los occidentales llamamos “budista.” En este contexto, “interiorizador” no tiene connotación alguna de adhesión a creencias o afiliación a sectas.

El escritor colombiano Gustavo Estrada dice:8 “Si el budismo no existiera, budista sería entonces quien practica las Enseñanzas, como futbolista es quien juega al fútbol y pianista quien toca el piano… sin necesidad alguna de creer en hipótesis metafísicas ni en rituales extraños; solamente necesitan practicar algo”. Su nivel de éxito depende solamente de qué tanto tiempo dedican los tres “istas” a los ejercicios asociados. Y agrega entonces el autor refiriéndose al auténtico budista: “Si practica poco, obtendrá pobres resultados; si practica mucho, logrará progresos notables; si practica todo el tiempo, será un virtuoso. Y de la misma forma que para el futbolista son importantes las reglas de juego y para el pianista la teoría musical, para el budista es relevante el Orden Natural (la otra acepción de Dhamma) —los aspectos de la naturaleza y de la experiencia que se relacionan con las instrucciones de vivir—.” El virtuoso del fútbol es una estrella en su deporte, el virtuoso del piano es un artista consumado, el virtuoso del budismo elimina el sufrimiento.”

La simplificación del budismo

El Canon Pali es la fuente más confiable de las Enseñanzas del Buda pero, desafortunadamente, su tamaño es descomunal. El Canon Pali consta de tres grandes divisiones de las cuales solo la División de narraciones, la segunda de ellas y solo una fracción de la misma, es de interés para el budismo pragmático. La División de narraciones o Sutta Pitaka también es voluminosa por sí sola y contiene más de seis mil quinientos títulos o documentos independientes. La lista de temas de doctrina es bastante larga y los puntos dentro de cada tema también pueden ser numerosos.

La mayoría de los eruditos están de acuerdo en la necesidad de identificar los puntos básicos de las Enseñanzas y durante las décadas recientes ha habido varios esfuerzos en esa dirección (ver Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana).

Hay convergencias mayores y divergencias menores con respecto a los conceptos que conforman la esencia de la Enseñanzas. Para comenzar, en adición a las verdades nobles y al camino intermedio, todas las propuestas coinciden en dos componentes importantes.

El primero, las tres características de los fenómenos, es el punto de entrada a la doctrina. Aquí comienza el budismo: Todo cambia permanentemente (annica en pali, anitya en sánscrito), existe el sufrimiento y la existencia humana es propensa al mismo (dukkha en ambos idiomas), y no existen entidades metafísicas asociadas con los fenómenos del universo (anattá en pali, anatman en sánscrito).

El segundo componente son los tres refugios:9 “Me refugio en el Buda, me refugio en la práctica de las Enseñanzas, me refugio en la comunidad” es la invocación que se hace al inicio de las prácticas de meditación en muchas tradiciones budistas. (Estas frases aparecen en numerosos textos del Canon Pali). El primer refugio, el Buda, representa la intuición, la ecuanimidad y la emancipación mental—la cualidad del Buda, no la persona, según S. N. Goenka—que todos podemos alcanzar; el Buda es un símbolo del potencial de llegar al despertar interior que existe en todo ser humano. El segundo refugio, las Enseñanzas, se refiere exclusivamente la práctica de las mismas (no a la lectura ni a la memorización de textos o conceptos). El tercer refugio, la comunidad, es el vehículo de divulgación de las Enseñanzas y el canal apropiado de dirección y apoyo para quienes comienzan el recorrido del camino noble.

A pesar de la coincidencia, es necesario anotar que la interpretación anterior del refugio en el Buda y el refugio en la comunidad difiere en el budismo pragmático de la correspondiente explicación del budismo religioso. El budismo pragmático no rinde pleitesía a la persona del Buda ni requiere en el mundo moderno de una comunidad religiosa para la divulgación de las Enseñanzas (papel este que desempeñaron los monjes budistas con notable competencia y éxito durante muchos siglos).

La esencia del budismo pragmático

Las verdades nobles y el camino noble, la cuarta verdad, conforman los conceptos en los cuales hay unanimidad entre todos los grupos o sectas que se denominen budistas. Los eruditos más pragmáticos, aquellos que consideran que el conocimiento debe ser puesto en acción si se ha de volver sabiduría, sostienen que las cuatro verdades nobles no solamente son la puerta de entrada a las Enseñanzas sino que allí está contenida toda la esencia doctrinaria.

No obstante, las verdades nobles aisladas pueden no satisfacer a quienes no les gustan los actos de fe. El Buda dijo en su primer discurso, La puesta en marcha de la rueda de la verdad, que cada una de las verdades nobles tiene que ser (1) entendida, (2) reconocida como necesaria y (3) experimentada como vivencia propia y directa. El primer punto, la necesidad de comprender y asimilar cada verdad, genera la urgencia de algunas nociones adicionales. En la selección de las pocas nociones adicionales asociadas al camino y a las verdades nobles aparecen las diferencias entre las diferentes propuestas.

Gustavo Estrada,uno de los proponentes del budismo pragmático, sugiere que el buda mismo da la respuesta a estos interrogantes en la narración conocida como las La maneras de afirmar la atención10 (Ver texto completo en Satipatthana Sutta).

Además de las tres características de los fenómenos y de los tres refugios, la esencia de las Enseñanzas se completa con cinco conceptos que se encuentran en la cuarta contemplación de la misma narración, justamente denominada Dhammãnupassanã o contemplación de las Enseñanzas. Estas cinco nociones, en la secuencia lógica de aplicación (no en el orden en que aparecen en la narración), son:

• Las cuatro verdades nobles (ariya-sacca en pali, arya-satya en sánscrito): Los cuatro enunciados que resumen las Enseñanzas (sufrimiento, sed, extinción, camino noble).
• Los cinco agregados de la individualidad (khandha en pali, skhanda en sánscrito) son los aspectos o fenómenos de la existencia que generan al ser humano la apariencia de una esencia inmaterial permanente (el cuerpo físico, las sensaciones, las percepciones, las formaciones condicionadas, la cognición). Esta noción es importante para la comprensión del resumen que hace el Buda de la primera verdad noble: “los cinco agregados de la individualidad pueden generar sufrimiento”.
• Los siete factores del despertar interior (bojjhanga en pali, bodhyanga en sánscrito) son los factores que contribuyen al progreso en el recorrido del camino noble (la recta atención, la reflexión sobre las Enseñanzas, la persistencia, el entusiasmo, la serenidad, el éxtasis, la ecuanimidad). Es importante resaltar aquí el primer factor, la atención —más exactamente la recta atención— que incluye tanto la vigilancia permanente de todo lo que nos sucede, interna y externamente, como la práctica de la meditación para afirmar la capacidad de estar atentos. El ejercicio de la meditación, tanto la de la atención como la del éxtasis, que aparecen en el camino noble y en los siete factores, es parte fundamental del budismo pragmático.
• Los cinco obstáculos de la intuición (nivarana en pali, nivarana en sánscrito) son las situaciones o circunstancias (la sensualidad, la hostilidad, la pereza, el desasosiego, la incertidumbre) que impiden o dificultan el conocimiento inmediato. Con los siete factores del punto anterior, los cinco obstáculos son parte del recto esfuerzo, el sexto hábito del camino noble: Abra espacio a todo lo que sea favorable a su progreso; evite todo aquello que lo desvíe de su camino.
• Las doce esferas de la actividad mental (saláyatana en pali, ayatana en sánscrito), , seis sentidos (seis bases internas) y sus objetos (bases externas), son el conjunto conformado por los ojos, los oídos, la nariz, la lengua, el sistema sensorial y el cerebro, con sus correspondientes objetos (ojos y formas visibles, oídos y sonidos, nariz y olores, lengua y sabores, contacto físico y sistema nervioso sensorial, cerebro y pensamientos). Las doce esferas de la actividad mental enfatizan la importancia que en toda experiencia tienen tanto los objetos externos (que pueden ser agradables, desagradables o neutros, por sí mismos) como las sensaciones o señales nerviosas que resultan del contacto con ellos (que pueden ser también agradables, desagradables o neutras). El control sobre los objetos externos y las sensaciones que ellos nos generan (segundo agregado de la individualidad) es limitado. El control sobre las percepciones (tercer agregado), el procesamiento que hace el sistema nervioso de las sensaciones, no solo es significativo sino susceptible de mejorar con la aplicación de las Enseñanzas. Pero, más importante aún, este control sobre el tercer agregado es fundamental en el eliminación del sufrimiento. Las bases internas actúan como intermediarias entre los fenómenos, las bases externas, por un lado, y las percepciones, las formaciones condicionadas y la cognición (el tercero, cuarto y quinto agregados, respectivamente), por el otro.

Para el budismo pragmático todo lo que está por fuera de estas siete nociones (características, refugios, verdades nobles, agregados, factores del despertar interior, obstáculos de la intuición y esferas de la actividad mental) son cosas indeterminadas (entes inmateriales, fenomenos metafisicos), innecesarias (rituales, maestros espirituales) o inútiles (leyendas, lugares metafisicos).

Grupos y organizaciones

Como manera de vivir basada en los hábitos que recomienda el camino noble, el budismo pragmático no necesita estar conectado con ningún sistema filosófico ni con ningún grupo religioso o sectario en particular. Pero los budistas pragmáticos sí quieren, en verdad, esparcir las Enseñanzas y en el mundo moderno eso solo puede suceder a través de grupos organizados. Algunos de tales grupos terminan inevitablemente pareciéndose a escuelas de pensamiento o a sectas religiosas. Aunque ni “pragmático” ni “pragmatismo” aparecen en las declaraciones de sus misiones, muchos de las asociaciones budistas contemporáneas son “pragmáticas” en su propósito, como sería de esperarse, de la misma forma que las Enseñanzas fueron pragmáticas mucho antes de que tal palabra se volviera de uso común.

La mayoría de las ramas del llamado Movimiento Vipassana (ver Vipassana movement) caben en esta categoría de “pragmáticas” no especificadas; en términos generales, sus registros o protocolos no hacen referencia alguna a creencias, rituales o prácticas que pudieran asociarse con sistemas religiosos. A continuación hay dos ejemplos de tales organizaciones.

El Centro de Meditación Sprit Rock (ver Spirit Rock Meditation Center), de acuerdo con su misión, “es una institución de educación y entrenamiento espirituales cuyo propósito es llevar a la gente, mediante la experiencia directa, a un nivel profundo de comprobación del camino budista de la emancipación”. El Centro se formó como una evolución del primer retiro de un grupo de meditación en 1974.

Los Centros de Meditación Vipassana, iniciados por S. N. Goenka en 1969, tienen como propósito exclusivo la enseñanza de la técnica de meditación Vipassana, “una manera simple y práctica de alcanzar la paz mental auténtica que lleva a una vida útil y feliz”.

Un caso algo diferente es la Sociedad de Meditación Introspectiva (ver Insight Meditation Society, IMS por sus siglas en inglés), una organización religiosa sin ánimo de lucro fundada en 1975. La misión del IMS es ser “un refugio espiritual para todos aquellos que buscan la liberación del sufrimiento mental y emocional”, declaración esta muy en línea con la definición de budismo pragmático.

Los tres grupos antes mencionados tienen sus raíces en el budismo Theravada y todos dejan a la palabra “pragmatismo” por fuera de sus definiciones de propósito y de sus descripciones organizacionales. Por otra parte, el Centro de Budismo Pragmático (ver Center for Pragmatic Buddhism, CPB por sus siglas en inglés), una sangha o comunidad budista más reciente que incorpora el budismo pragmático y enseña prácticas específicas para cultivar la vigilancia consciente en la vida diaria, está basado en escuelas Mahayana y es pragmático por definición. El CPB, establecido en 2006, se identifica a sí mismo como “la síntesis del chan chino y el budismo zen con la tradición pragmática norteamericana.

Budismo pragmático y espiritualidad

No obstante las consideraciones semánticas, a los ojos de todo el mundo, budismo es la gran religión con veinticinco siglos de antigüedad y budista es quien sigue tal religión. Esta es la razón por la cual el calificativo de “pragmático” se vuelve indispensable. Dentro de estas consideraciones, hay dos puntos que merecen especial atención. El primero, el budismo pragmático comparte con el budismo, con la religión y la filosofía totales, la esencia de las Enseñanzas del Buda, esencia que es común a todas escuelas y ramas del budismo.

El segundo, el budismo pragmático es espiritual a pesar de su exclusión de nociones metafísicas. El budismo pragmático cabe muy bien dentro de espiritualidad ateísta o no religiosa tal como la define el filósofo contemporáneo francés André Comte-Sponville. Este escritor sostiene que es posible ser espiritual sin necesidad de creer en entidades metafísicas. El fondo del asunto, de acuerdo con el filósofo francés, no se encuentra en Dios, la religión o el ateísmo sino en la vida espiritual. Comte-Sponville define espiritualidad como11 “nuestra relación finita con el infinito, nuestra experiencia temporal de la eternidad, y nuestro acceso relativo a lo absoluto.” A la pregunta de si los seres humanos podríamos vivir sin religión, Comte-Sponville responde (los paréntesis que aparecen en la cita son agregados): “Sí, sí podemos vivir sin religión pero no podemos o, al menos, no debemos hacerlo sin comunión (sentido de comunidad: la sangha de budismo), fidelidad (a un conjunto de principios: el Dhamma del budismo) y amor (metta, la benevolencia del budismo).” Por lo tanto, la práctica del budismo pragmático —el recorrido del camino noble para eliminar el sufrimiento— satisface las aspiraciones espirituales tanto de las gentes de fe, cuyas creencias no excluyan la apertura mental, como de las personas sin afiliación o credo alguno, agnósticos y ateos por igual.

Referencias

1. ? Ver, por ejemplo, Samyutta Níkaya 56.31: Simsapa sutta.
2. ? Majjhíma Nikaya 63: Cuula-malunkhya sutta.
3. ? Anguttara Níkaya 10.96: Kokanuda sutta; Majjhíma Nikaaya 72: Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta; Samyutta Níkaya 44.1- 44.11: Abyakata-samyutta.
4. ? Conze, Edward (1997). Budismo: Its Essence y Development(New York: Riverhead Books).
5. ? Hahn, Thich Nhat (1998). The Heart of el Buda’s Teaching. Berkeley, California: Parallax Press.
6. ? J .Krishnamurti: 3rd Seminar Madras 16 Jan 1981
7. ? Stephen Batchelor (1997), Buddhism without Beliefs (New York: Riverhead Books).
8. ? Estrada, Gustavo (2008). Hacia el Buda desde el Occidente. Cummings, Georgia: Axess Book Printing.
9. ? Khuddaka Níkaya: Khuddakapatha 1
10. ? Majjhíma Nikaya 10: Satipatthana Sutta.
11. ? Comte-Sponville, André (2007). The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality. London: Penguin Group

Basic Points Unifying the Theravāda and the Mahāyāna

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 The Basic Points Unifying the Theravāda and the Mahāyāna is an important Buddhist ecumenical statement created in 1967 during the First Congress of the World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC), where its founder Secretary-General, the late Venerable Pandita Pimbure Sorata Thera, requested the Ven. Walpola Rahula to present a concise formula for the unification of all the different buddhist traditions. This text was then unanimously approved by the Council.

Text of the Original Document

[edit] Expansion of the Formula

Ven. Walpola Sri Rahula in 1981 offered an alternative to the Nine-point formula above restating it as follows:

Fukanzazengi - Guia del Zazen del maestro Dogen