[205] This matter, venerable sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra spoke. Having spoken this matter, venerable sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra addressed the gods of Tāvatiṃsa: "What do the good gods of Tāvatiṃsa think of this? How well laid down indeed are these four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna) by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, for the attainment of the wholesome (kusala)! What four?
"Here, sirs, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body internally—ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful—having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. As he dwells contemplating the body in the body internally, he therein becomes rightly concentrated, rightly clarified. Being therein rightly concentrated and rightly clarified, he generates knowledge (ñāṇa) and vision externally with regard to the bodies of others.
"He dwells contemplating feelings (vedanā) in feelings internally—ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful—having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. As he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings internally, he therein becomes rightly concentrated, rightly clarified. Being therein rightly concentrated and rightly clarified, he generates knowledge and vision externally with regard to the feelings of others.
"He dwells contemplating the mind (citta) in the mind internally—ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful—having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. As he dwells contemplating the mind in the mind internally, he therein becomes rightly concentrated, rightly clarified. Being therein rightly concentrated and rightly clarified, he generates knowledge and vision externally with regard to the minds of others.
"He dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas internally—ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful—having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. As he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas internally, he therein becomes rightly concentrated, rightly clarified. Being therein rightly concentrated and rightly clarified, he generates knowledge and vision externally with regard to the dhammas of others.
"These, sirs, are the four establishments of mindfulness laid down by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, for the attainment of the wholesome."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.