Frames of Reference by Ajaan Lee Dhamadharo is a personal introduction to the four frames of reference. The four frames of reference relate to four techniques or practices leading to spiritual freedom as it is taught in the Thai forest traditions. The frames are: Being mindful of mental qualities, being mindful of the mind, being mindful of feeling and being mindful of the body.
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Frames of Reference by Ajaan Lee Dhamadharo
What are The Four Frames of Reference in Buddhism?
In Buddhism, the four frames of reference, also known as the four foundations of mindfulness (or “Satipatthāna” in Pali), are central to the practice of meditation. They are outlined in the Satipatthāna Sutta, one of the most important and widely studied discourses in the Theravāda tradition. These practices are essential for developing concentration, mindfulness, and insight, and they serve as a systematic method for cultivating deeper understanding and liberation.
The four frames of reference are:
- Body (Kāyānupassanā):
- Observation: One is mindful of the body in and of itself, observing it both internally and externally.
- Practices: This includes mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati), postures (standing, sitting, walking, lying down), clear comprehension of activities (such as eating or dressing), mindfulness of the 32 parts of the body, the four elements (earth, water, fire, air), and the contemplation of corpses in various stages of decomposition.
- Feelings or sensations (Vedanānupassanā):
- Observation: One observes feelings or sensations as they arise, whether they are pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral, and whether they are of worldly or spiritual nature.
- Practices: The practitioner does not identify with the feeling or react to it but simply notes it and observes its impermanent nature.
- Mind or consciousness (Cittānupassanā):
- Observation: One is aware of the state of the mind or consciousness. This involves observing whether the mind is lustful or not, angry or not, deluded or not, concentrated or not, etc.
- Practices: The practitioner observes the mind’s states without attachment, recognizing their transient nature.
- Dhammas (Dhammānupassanā):
- Observation: This frame of reference relates to observing phenomena and the principles of the Dharma (Buddhist teachings).
- Practices: It includes contemplation of the Five Hindrances (which are obstacles to meditation and enlightenment), the Six Sense Bases (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind) and their objects, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (factors leading to awakening), and the Four Noble Truths (the foundational principles of Buddhist doctrine concerning the nature of suffering and the path to its cessation).
By systematically practicing mindfulness with these four frames of reference, a practitioner can purify the mind, gain deep insight into the nature of reality, and ultimately realize enlightenment or Nibbāna (Nirvana).