Re: Mahaasatipa.t.thaanasutta.m

Bhante Yuttadhammo,

> I am still not convinced :)

For a comprehensive analysis of this word please see the excellent book
"The Buddhist Path to Awakening" by the current President of Pali Text
Society Rupert Gethin, pp. 59-66. There he gives as well Jataka usage
which you quoted. As it often happens with Jatakas, meaning of this word
in them is somewhat different from Sutta usage.

> I would suggest that it is better to leave a broader translation here than
> "leading to only one place" or "the direct way to the one". The word
> "direct" is not used, and neither is the word "leading". The words that are
> included in the compound are "eka=one, certain, only" and "ayana" = "going
> (as a noun), way (from "i"=to go)".

Thus "going to one (place)".

> If we consider only the Satipatthana Sutta, we have the Lord Buddha's words
> that the four foundations of mindfulness are at least one way to Nibbaana,
> but then we see that "this way" (the eightfold noble path) is the only way
> (natth'a~n~na.m).

You probably mean Dhammapada 274.

> So surely Satipatthana practice must also be the only
> way, and also be the same way, or else we cannot reconcile the Buddha's
> words.

I see your point, however I won't equalise the Eightfold noble path with
Satipatthana practice as a method. For example, in Vera~njaka.n.da
(Vin. iii 1.11) it is described how different Buddhas apply quite
different methods of Eightfold path.

The notion of exclusivity, when applied to one particular method, may
lead to sectarianism. It is not an only method - for example, some
people attained Nibbana after short conversation with Buddha.

In translation "leading to Nibbana and nowhere else" I see optimistic
exhortation. Satipatthana itself is an embodiment of multiple
alternatives of reaching Nibbana via either of four satipatthanas.

> It seems to be the same path, and this sameness is carried over to the
> eightfold noble path by the commentary, as Nina points out:
>
> Why is the Arousing of Mindfulness intended by the word "way"? Are there not
> many other factors of the way, namely, understanding, thinking, speech,
> action, livelihood, effort, and concentration, besides mindfulness? To be
> sure there are. But all these are implied when the Arousing of Mindfulness
> is mentioned, because these factors exist in union with mindfulness.

There is indeed a connection. Each sutta, Satipatthana included, is like
an aspect of a wonderful gem of Eightfold path.

Satipatthana offers unique multidimensional perspective of the Path -
four satipatthanas as one dimension, seven bojjhangas as second
dimension, varieties of practice as third dimension.

However to say that an aspect is a gem would be an exaggeration.

With metta, Dmytro