Commentary on the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (Second Edition) (Newly Revised)

Chapter Five: Contemplative Practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of Dwelling Contemplating Dharmas

This chapter discusses the contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of five kinds of dharmas in total, all of which pertain to what should be cultivated with regard to the path of seeing in the Small Vehicle. If one cultivates deeply, one will draw ever closer to the path of seeing. When one truly begins to cultivate, one must first find ways to remove the hindrances and obstructions; only when the obstructions are removed and there are no obstacles to one's practice of the Path can cultivation proceed smoothly. After contemplating the five hindrances and removing the obstructions, the World-Honored One then teaches the contemplation of the five grasping aggregates, followed by the contemplation of the twelve sense bases (ṣaḍāyatana) and the eighteen elements. While contemplating the five aggregates and the eighteen elements, one must also understand the seven factors of enlightenment; only when the seven factors of enlightenment definitely arise in the course of one's cultivation and realization is one's practice in accordance with the Dharma and the principles. After contemplating the seven factors of enlightenment, one must then cultivate correctly, practicing the Four Noble Truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Each of these Four Noble Truths must be deliberated upon (manasikāra/manana) and contemplated one by one, and only then can one realize the Path. Therefore, all these dharmas are important, and all of them lead toward nirvāṇa.