SAMMASATI

In the Noble Eightfold Path, the practice leading to the complete cessation of Unsatisfactoriness, Sammsati is counted as the second factor of the Samdhi Section, the “Higher Mental Training”. The usual definition of Sammsati given in the Discourses is as follows:

“Bhikkhus, What is Sammsati? This is called Sammsati, namely, that a bhikkhu in this Dhamma Vinaya:

1 Contemplates the body in the body with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard with regard to the world;

2 Contemplates feeling in feelings with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;

3 Contemplates the mind in the mind with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;

4 Contemplates dhammasin dhammas with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world."

Another definition, which appears in the Abhidhamma texts, is as follows :

“ What is sammsati? Sati means to bear in mind or bring to mind. Sati is the state of recollecting, the state of remembering, the state of non-fading, the state of non-forgetting. Sati means the sati that is a Spiritual Faculty, the sati that is a Spiritual Power,

Sammsati, the Sati that is an Enlightenment Factor, that which is a Path Factor and that which is related to the Path. This is what is called Sammsati.”

Sammsati, as defined in the Discourses, is a synonym for the principles of Dhamma known as the Four satipatthana. The four elements of this group have the abbreviated names of:

1. Kynupassan (contemplation or mindfulness of the body);

2. Vedannupassan (contemplation or mindfulness of feelings);

3. Cittnupassan (contemplation or mindfulness of mind);

4. Dhammnupassan (contemplation or mindfulness of dhammas).

Before investigating the meaning off sammsati in terms of the Four Satipatthna, it would seem appropriate to make a few general points on the subject of sati to serve as a basic foundation for our study.

1	Contemplates the body in the body with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard with regard to the world;
2	Contemplates feeling in feelings with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;
3	Contemplates the mind in the mind with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world;
4	Contemplates dhammasin dhammas with effort, sampajaa and sati, eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world."