Four Frames of Reference

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Pali :  satipaṭṭhāna
• Sanskrit :  smṛtyupasthāna

The Four Frames of Reference is often called the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, namely, mindfulness of the body, of thoughts or the mind, of feelings and of mental objects or qualities. Satipaṭṭhāna can also be thought of as establishing mindfulness or sati-upaṭṭhāna.

Satipaṭṭhāna is a way of implementing the right mindfulness and, less directly, the right concentration parts of the Noble Eightfold Path. Satipaṭṭhāna meditation goes hand-in-hand with vipassana, samatha or calming meditation, and anapana meditation. Satipaṭṭhāna is practiced with the aims of vipassana and most often in the context of Theravada Buddhism although the principles are also practiced in most traditions of Buddhism which emphasize meditation such as the Zen or Soto Zen tradition.

Reference

• Satipatthana Sutta
• Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization, ISBN 1-899579-54-0