1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.1.4Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

1.5“ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu, ko paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hoti?“What is the cause, worthy Gotama, what is the reason why the true teaching does not last long after the final quenching of the Realized One?1.6Ko pana, bho gotama, hetu, ko paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī”ti?And what is the cause, what is the reason why the true teaching does last long after the final quenching of the Realized One?”

2.1“Catunnaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hoti.“Brahmin, it’s because of not developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t last long after the final quenching of the Realized One.2.2Catunnañca kho, brāhmaṇa, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hoti.It’s because of developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching does last long after the final quenching of the Realized One.

3.1Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?What four?3.2Idha, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.3.3vedanāsu …pe…They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …3.4citte …pe…mind …3.5dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.3.6Imesaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hoti.It’s because of not developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t last long after the final quenching of the Realized One.3.7Imesañca kho, brāhmaṇa, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī”ti.It’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching does last long after the final quenching of the Realized One.”

4.1Evaṁ vutte, so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When he said this, the brahmin said to the Buddha,4.2“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …4.3upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

4.4Pañcamaṁ.