Short teachings on the benefits of cultivating mindfulness of the body.

AN 1.575-615  Kāyagatāsati vagga - The Chapter on Mindfulness of the Body

1.575

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo cetasā phuṭo antogadhā tassa kunnadiyo kāci samuddaṅgamā; evamevaṁ, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatā sati bhāvitā bahulīkatā antogadhā tassa kusalā dhammā ye keci vijjābhāgiyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, for anyone who has encompassed the great ocean in their mind, all the streams flowing into it are included. Similarly, bhikkhus, for anyone who has cultivated and frequently practiced mindfulness of the body, all wholesome qualities that are part of the path to realization are included.”

1.576–582

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati mahato atthāya saṁvattati mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati satisampajaññāya saṁvattati ñāṇadassanappaṭilābhāya saṁvattati diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya saṁvattati vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati mahato atthāya saṁvattati mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati satisampajaññāya saṁvattati ñāṇadassanappaṭilābhāya saṁvattati diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya saṁvattati vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to great urgency ... great benefit ... great safety from bondage ... to mindfulness and full awareness ... to the acquisition of wisdom and vision ... to blissful living in the present life ... to the realization of the fruit of wisdom and liberation. What is that one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to great urgency ... great benefit ... great safety from bondage ... to mindfulness and full awareness ... to the acquisition of wisdom and vision ... to blissful living in the present life ... to the realization of the fruit of wisdom and liberation.”

1.583

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati, vitakkavicārāpi vūpasammanti, kevalāpi vijjābhāgiyā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati, vitakkavicārāpi vūpasammanti, kevalāpi vijjābhāgiyā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, both body and mind become peaceful, thought and examination settle down, and all qualities leading to realization reach full development. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, both body and mind become peaceful, thought and examination settle down, and all qualities leading to realization reach full development.”

1.584

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti, uppannā ca akusalā dhammā pahīyanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti, uppannā ca akusalā dhammā pahīyantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, unwholesome qualities do not arise, and if arisen, they are abandoned. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, unwholesome qualities do not arise, and if arisen, they are abandoned.”

1.585

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti, uppannā ca kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti, uppannā ca kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, wholesome qualities arise, and once arisen, they increase and expand. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, wholesome qualities arise, and once arisen, they increase and expand.”

1.586–590

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate avijjā pahīyati vijjā uppajjati asmimāno pahīyati anusayā samugghātaṁ gacchanti saṁyojanā pahīyanti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate avijjā pahīyati vijjā uppajjati asmimāno pahīyati anusayā samugghātaṁ gacchanti saṁyojanā pahīyantī”ti.

“When one factor, bhikkhus, is cultivated and frequently practiced, ignorance is abandoned ... wisdom arises ... the conceit ‘I am’ is abandoned ... underlying tendencies are eradicated ... fetters are abandoned. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, ignorance is abandoned ... wisdom arises ... the conceit ‘I am’ is abandoned ... underlying tendencies are eradicated ... fetters are abandoned.”

1.591–592

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpabhedāya saṁvattati anupādāparinibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpabhedāya saṁvattati anupādāparinibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the breakthrough to wisdom ... to extinction without |clinging::grasping, acquiring, appropriating, taking possession, identifying [upādāna]|. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the breakthrough to wisdom ... to extinction without clinging.”

1.593–595

“Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhāvite bahulīkate anekadhātupaṭivedho hoti nānādhātupaṭivedho hoti anekadhātupaṭisambhidā hoti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Kāyagatāya satiyā. Imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhāvite bahulīkate anekadhātupaṭivedho hoti nānādhātupaṭivedho hoti anekadhātupaṭisambhidā hotī”ti.

“When one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, there is the penetration of many elements ... the penetration of various elements ... the discrimination of many elements. Which one factor? Mindfulness of the body. In this, bhikkhus, when the one factor is cultivated and frequently practiced, there is the penetration of many elements ... the penetration of various elements ... the discrimination of many elements.”

1.596–599

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the realization of the fruit of stream-entry ... once-returner ... non-returner ... arahantship. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the realization of the fruit of stream-entry ... once-returner ... non-returner ... arahantship.”

1.600–615

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpaṭilābhāya saṁvattati paññāvuddhiyā saṁvattati paññāvepullāya saṁvattati mahāpaññatāya saṁvattati puthupaññatāya saṁvattati vipulapaññatāya saṁvattati gambhīrapaññatāya saṁvattati asāmantapaññatāya saṁvattati bhūripaññatāya saṁvattati paññābāhullāya saṁvattati sīghapaññatāya saṁvattati lahupaññatāya saṁvattati hāsapaññatāya saṁvattati javanapaññatāya saṁvattati tikkhapaññatāya saṁvattati nibbedhikapaññatāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatā sati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato paññāpaṭilābhāya saṁvattati paññāvuddhiyā saṁvattati paññāvepullāya saṁvattati mahāpaññatāya saṁvattati puthupaññatāya saṁvattati vipulapaññatāya saṁvattati gambhīrapaññatāya saṁvattati asāmantapaññatāya saṁvattati bhūripaññatāya saṁvattati paññābāhullāya saṁvattati sīghapaññatāya saṁvattati lahupaññatāya saṁvattati hāsapaññatāya saṁvattati javanapaññatāya saṁvattati tikkhapaññatāya saṁvattati nibbedhikapaññatāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“One factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the acquisition of wisdom ... the growth of wisdom ... the expansion of wisdom ... to great wisdom ... to widespread wisdom ... to abundant wisdom ... to profound wisdom ... to extraordinary wisdom ... to vast wisdom ... to ample wisdom ... to quick wisdom ... to agile wisdom ... to joyful wisdom ... to rapid wisdom ... to sharp wisdom ... to penetrating wisdom. What one factor? Mindfulness of the body. This one factor, bhikkhus, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to the acquisition of wisdom ... the growth of wisdom ... the expansion of wisdom ... to great wisdom ... to widespread wisdom ... to abundant wisdom ... to profound wisdom ... to extraordinary wisdom ... to vast wisdom ... to ample wisdom ... to quick wisdom ... to agile wisdom ... to joyful wisdom ... to rapid wisdom ... to sharp wisdom ... to penetrating wisdom.”

Topics & Qualities:

Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti, vimutti, nibbāna
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities in and of themselves.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anupassanā
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Last updated on December 13, 2025