At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans near the brahmin village of Sālā. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, those mendicants who are junior—recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training—should be encouraged, supported, and established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. What four? Please, reverends, meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to truly know the body. Meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to truly know feelings. Meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to truly know the mind. Meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to truly know principles.

Those mendicants who are trainees—who haven’t achieved their heart’s desire, but live aspiring to the supreme sanctuary—also meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to fully understand the body. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to fully understand feelings. They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to fully understand the mind. They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, so as to fully understand principles.

Those mendicants who are perfected—who have ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment—also meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, detached from the body. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, detached from feelings. They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, detached from the mind. They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, at one, with a clear mind, immersed in samādhi, detached from principles.

Those mendicants who are junior—recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training—should be encouraged, supported, and established in these four kinds of mindfulness meditation.”