External satipatthana

[phil]

In his book on satipatthana, Ven. Anaalayo devotes a fair bit of attention to external satipatthana,
recommending the interpretation that one should make inferences about others' mind states by observing their habitual comportment. He says this could help keep satipatthana from being too self-centered.

I find it a bit surprising. Interesting to make such guesses about the cittas at work in people around us, but sounds more like a distraction than a support for satipatthana. And as for encouraging extroversion as a balance for too much introversion, as he does, sounds a bit odd. (i guess he is using a stricter definition of extroverted, to mean turning towards others rather than the outgoing, talkative image of extrovrted we usually have.

Any thoughts? Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?

[tiltbillings]

See

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1122

[phil]

See

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1122

Thanks Tiltbilling, I can see others have also been perplexed by the interpretation the Venerable gives most weight to.
In his talk on MN10, Bhikkhu Bodhi also goes with this interpretation....

[Alexei]

Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?

I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.

Sedaka Sutta

[ground]

Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?

No, i.e. if then only incidentally. Generally I suspect this kind of volitional practice to be cultivation of arbitrary imputations. So I prefer to refrain from this.

I think I prefer the non-conventional interpretation of "external satipatthana" as an objectivying analysis of experience from an observing perspective.
In contrast to this "internal satipatthana" then means a non-objectivying analysis of experience from an experiencing perspective.


Kind regards

[tiltbillings]

Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?

I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.

Sedaka Sutta

As I pointed out in the above link, it certainly can be practiced that way quite literally and meaningfully. It is not only a wisdom practice, but also a compassion practice.

[phil]

Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?

I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.

Sedaka Sutta

As I pointed out in the above link, it certainly can be practiced that way quite literally and meaningfully. It is not only a wisdom practice, but also a compassion practice.

I can certainly see it as a compassion practice and a wise way to approach others. For example, we know that not showing aversion towards others' behaviour is a form of dana, the gift of freedom from fear. Being tuned into what others' expressions indicate about their mindstates will help there.

I also see now that there is an active thread related to this topic in the meditation corner, I should read more thoroughly....

[Dmytro]

Hi,

There's a thread about the term "bahiddhā":
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8462

Metta, Dmytro

[phil]

Hi,

There's a thread about the term "bahiddhā":
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8462

Metta, Dmytro

Thanks Dmytro, interesting.