The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, France, 2014.
Introduction
This teaching focuses on the four objects of mindfulness. These four objects or foundation for developing awareness are a very important subject, whatever our approach to Buddhism is: whether we are practitioners of the common teachings of Buddhism, the Sravakayana, or the great vehicle — Mayahana, the way of the bodhisattvas. It is equally important in the teachings of Vajrayana. The four objects of mindfulness are the body, sensations, mind, and phenomena. What is the meaning of “object of mindfulness,” (drenpa nyewar shakpa in Tibetan)? It concerns the observation of the specific characteristics of the body, sensations, mind, and phenomena, to recognize their true nature, their reality, and to keep this in one’s mind. It means to maintain awareness of what the body, sensations, mind, and phenomena truly are.