Mindfulness in Similes in Early Buddhist Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to elucidate the doctrine and practice of mindfulness as expounded in early Buddhist literature, including the suttas/sūtras in the Pali Nikāyas and the Āgamas extant in Chinese translation. This chapter focuses on the Buddha’s expositions of mindfulness accompanied by similes. It deals with four types of similes, namely prevention, healing, binding and altruism. By examining the Buddha’s discourses on mindfulness in the contexts where similes are given to assist his audience, we can delve into this important teaching and acquire a better understanding of what mindfulness means and how it is practised. In this chapter, the notion of mindfulness is explored from the viewpoint of both psychology and meditation in Buddhism. Textual criticism is utilized to approach the problems of reading some early Buddhist texts.