Satipatthana Meditation Quotes

“Based on the above presentation, the cultivation and balancing of the awakening factors could be visualized as involving three seesaws supported by a single pivot point. The single pivot point is mindfulness. The first seesaw has investigation-of-dharmas and equipoise as its two ends. It has the largest board because it encompasses the domain of what is internal and external. The second seesaw has energy and tranquillity as its two ends. Its board is comparatively smaller because it only covers the domain of what is bodily and mental. The third seesaw has joy and concentration as its two ends. Its board is the smallest because its domain is confined to various levels of deepening concentration.”
― Bhikkhu Anālayo, Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide

“In actual practice this could be illustrated with the example of being in a canoe or kayak with a double-bladed paddle. The canoe is carried forward by the flow of a river at exactly the right speed. On the banks to the left and right there is beautiful natural scenery and above is the wide-open sky. Our only task is to stay in the middle of the river so that the journey can continue on its own. This requires keeping an eye on deviating from the midst of the river. When the canoe moves closer to one of the two banks, gently putting one blade of the paddle into the water for a short moment suffices to return to the centre of the river. In this simile, the canoe represents mindfulness of the body and the river the continuous awareness of impermanence. The beautiful scenery on both sides of the river illustrates the different insights to be gained during satipaṭṭhāna meditation. The wide-open sky represents the open-minded and receptive attitude characteristic of this mode of cultivating mindfulness. The ocean as the final destination of the river corresponds to the realization of Nibbāna. One who cultivates the four satipaṭṭhānas inclines and slopes towards Nibbāna just as the river Ganges inclines and slopes towards the ocean (SN 47.51). It is in particular the cultivation of the seven awakening factors that makes our practice flow towards Nibbāna (SN 46.77; Anālayo 2003: 233).”
― Bhikkhu Anālayo, Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide

“BALANCING THE AWAKENING FACTORS The actual performance in the cultivation of the awakening factors is a matter of harmonious balancing. The basic tone that accompanies the entire piece is set by mindfulness. Mindfulness is always required (SN 46.53, Anālayo 2003: 235 and 2013: 204). The remaining six awakening factors fall into two ensembles with three members each. Investigation-of-dharmas, energy, and joy make up the members of the first ensemble, which serves to energize the practice. Tranquillity, concentration, and equipoise make up the members of the second ensemble, which serves to bring calmness to the practice. In actual practice, the concert pitch of these two ensembles could be summarized under the headings of “joyfully sustained interest” and “calmly composed balance”.”
― Bhikkhu Anālayo, Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide