Linked Discourses 47.5

1. In Ambapālī’s Mango Grove

A Heap of the Unskillful

At Sāvatthī.
There the Buddha said:
 “Rightly speaking, mendicants, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.
 For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.
 What five?
 The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.
 Rightly speaking, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.
 For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.
 Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.
 For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.
 What four?
 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.
 They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
 They meditate observing an aspect of the mind …
 They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.”

Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.
For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.”