Reference: The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness
The FourNoble Truths are part of the mental objects that one needs to be mindful of. These are:
- ‘This is suffering’
- ‘This is the origin of suffering’
- ‘This is the cessation of suffering’
- ‘This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering’
Here are some excerpts from Satipatthana Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness.
“And further, monks, a monk lives contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the four noble truths.
“How, monks, does a monk live contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the four noble truths?
“Herein, monks, a monk knows, ‘This is suffering,’ according to reality; he knows, ‘This is the origin of suffering,’ according to reality; he knows, ‘This is the cessation of suffering,’ according to reality; he knows ‘This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering,’ according to reality.
Thus he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects internally, or he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects externally, or he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-factors in mental objects, or he lives contemplating dissolution-factors in mental objects, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-factors in mental objects.[27] Or his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘Mental objects exist,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness, and he lives detached, and clings to nothing in the world. Thus, monks, a monk lives contemplating mental objects in the mental objects of the four noble truths.
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“Verily, monks, whosoever practices these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for seven years, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge (arahantship) here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.[28]
“O monks, let alone seven years. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for six years… five years… four years… three years… two years… one year, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.
“O monks, let alone a year. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for seven months… six months… five months… four months… three months… two months… a month… half a month, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.
“O monks, let alone half a month. Should any person practice these four foundations of mindfulness in this manner for a week, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.
“Because of this it was said: ‘This is the only way, monks, 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 foundations of mindfulness.’
“Thus spoke the Blessed One. Satisfied, the monks approved of his words.”
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EXERCISE
PURPOSE: To practice mindfulness in Four Noble Truths.
1. Look and contemplate on ‘This is suffering.’
2. Look and contemplate on ‘This is the origin of suffering’
3. Look and contemplate on ‘This is the cessation of suffering’
4. Look and contemplate on ‘This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering’
5. Continue contemplating these noble truths internally and/or as observed externally.
6. Be mindful of the origination factors in these noble truths, and/or the dissolution factors in these noble truths.
7. Be mindful that these noble truths exists to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness.
8. Live detached, and cling to nothing in the world.
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Further references: KHTK Mindfulness
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