8.

Discussion on the Establishment of Mindfulness

301. Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Are all phenomena mindfulness, mindfulness faculty, power of mindfulness, right mindfulness, enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the direct path, leading to elimination, leading to enlightenment, leading to non-accumulation, without mental corruptions, not subject to mental fetters, not subject to mental knots, not subject to mental floods, not subject to mental bonds, not subject to mental hindrances, not adhered to, not subject to clinging, not subject to mental defilement; are all phenomena recollection of the Buddha, recollection of the Teaching, recollection of the Community, recollection of morality, recollection of generosity, recollection of the deities, mindfulness of breathing, recollection of death, mindfulness of the body, recollection of peace? That should not be said. Etc.

Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Is the eye sense base an establishment of mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc. Is the eye sense base an establishment of mindfulness? Yes. Is the eye sense base mindfulness, mindfulness faculty, power of mindfulness, right mindfulness, enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the direct path, leading to elimination, leading to enlightenment, leading to non-accumulation, without mental corruptions, not subject to mental fetters, etc. not subject to mental defilement; is the eye sense base recollection of the Buddha, recollection of the Teaching, recollection of the Community, recollection of morality, recollection of generosity, recollection of the deities, mindfulness of breathing, recollection of death, mindfulness of the body, recollection of peace? That should not be said. Etc. The ear sense base... the nose sense base... the tongue sense base... the body sense base... the visible form sense base... the sound sense base... The odour sense base... The flavour sense base... The touch sense base... lust... Hate... Delusion... conceit... View... Sceptical doubt... Sloth... Restlessness... Shamelessness... Is moral fearlessness an establishment of mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc. Is moral fearlessness an establishment of mindfulness? Yes. Is moral fearlessness mindfulness, mindfulness faculty, power of mindfulness, right mindfulness, etc. mindfulness of the body, recollection of peace? That should not be said. Etc.

Is mindfulness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that mindfulness? Yes. Is the eye sense base an establishment of mindfulness, and is that mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc. Is mindfulness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that mindfulness? Yes. The ear sense base... etc. the body sense base... the visible form sense base... etc. The touch sense base... lust... Hate... delusion... etc. Is moral fearlessness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc.

Is the eye sense base an establishment of mindfulness, and is that not mindfulness? Yes. Is mindfulness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that not mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc. the ear sense base... etc. the body sense base... the visible form sense base... etc. The touch sense base... lust... Hate... delusion... etc. Is moral fearlessness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that not mindfulness? Yes. Is mindfulness an establishment of mindfulness, and is that not mindfulness? That should not be said. Etc.

302. Should it not be said - "All phenomena are establishments of mindfulness"? Yes. Is it not that mindfulness remains settled referring to all phenomena? Yes. If mindfulness remains settled referring to all phenomena, then indeed sir, it should be said - "All phenomena are establishments of mindfulness."

Because mindfulness remains settled referring to all phenomena, are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Because contact remains settled referring to all phenomena, are all phenomena establishments of contact? That should not be said. Etc.

Because mindfulness remains settled referring to all phenomena, are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Feeling remains settled referring to all phenomena... perception remains settled... volition remains settled... because consciousness remains settled, are all phenomena establishments of consciousness? That should not be said. Etc.

Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. All beings are mindful, endowed with mindfulness, covered with mindfulness; is mindfulness present for all beings? That should not be said. Etc.

303. Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "Those, monks, do not consume the Deathless who do not consume mindfulness of the body. Those, monks, consume the Deathless who consume mindfulness of the body." Is there such a discourse? Yes. Do all beings consume, obtain, practise, develop and cultivate mindfulness of the body? That should not be said. Etc.

Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "Monks, this is the one-way path for the purification of beings, for the transcendence of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and displeasure, for the achievement of the true method, for the realisation of Nibbāna, that is to say, the four establishments of mindfulness"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. Are all phenomena the one-way path? That should not be said. Etc.

Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "Monks, with the manifestation of a wheel-turning monarch, there is the manifestation of seven treasures. Which seven? There is the manifestation of the wheel treasure, there is the manifestation of the elephant treasure, of the horse treasure... of the jewel treasure... of the woman treasure... of the householder treasure... there is the manifestation of the adviser treasure. Monks, with the manifestation of a wheel-turning monarch, there is the manifestation of these seven treasures.

"Monks, with the manifestation of the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, there is the manifestation of seven enlightenment factor treasures. Which seven? There is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of mindfulness treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of energy treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of rapture treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of tranquillity treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of concentration treasure, there is the manifestation of the enlightenment factor of equanimity treasure. Monks, with the manifestation of the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, there is the manifestation of these seven enlightenment factor treasures." Is there such a discourse? Yes. With the manifestation of the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, are all phenomena only the enlightenment factor of mindfulness treasure? That should not be said. Etc. Are all phenomena establishments of mindfulness? Yes. Are all phenomena right strivings... bases for spiritual power... faculties... powers... factors of enlightenment? That should not be said. Etc.

The Treatise on the Establishment of Mindfulness is concluded.