Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

[SarathW]

Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

That is while we are doing our day to day normal activities.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Sarath,

Yes. In relation to body-focused practices, the sutta itself even makes explicit reference to the full range of possible body positions.

Practices focused on the mind are as applicable whether you are sat down, eyes closed, as they are in other positions.

Metta,
Retro.

[Goofaholix]

Yes, as retro says of course you can because it should be developed within a range of postures.

The question is though can you develop a momentum in the practice of Satipatthana without the support of formal sitting, I think that would be very difficult for most people.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

The question is though can you develop a momentum in the practice of Satipatthana without the support of formal sitting, I think that would be very difficult for most people.

I see the difference in being the number of potential distractions that present themselves, and the risk of getting caught up in the content, rather than not-clinging to it. In other words, I think it's a product of sense-restraint.

Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

That is while we are doing our day to day normal activities.

Yes, the Satipatthana Sutta alludes to the fact that Satipatthana can be practiced in a multitude of daily activities by listing the four body postures. Certainly, in the instruction I have been given by my teacher one begins by getting established in the sitting posture but after a while he encouraged his students to carry the mental cultivation on regardless of what one is doing whether it be eating, defecating, sleeping, walking, or whatever.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

To turn the question around, “Are we practising Satipatthāna if we only do formal sitting?”

I think it was Chanmyay Sayādaw who likened mindfulness of daily activities to the mortar in a wall, Without mindfulness of daily activities, one's practice is very weak, like a wall built without mortar.

By the same reasoning, a wall built only of mortar would also be very weak, and it would also be expensive and time-consuming to build.

We need to practice many things to develop and strengthen our daily meditation practice:

1. Refine and purify our morality
2. Give charity and serve others whenever we can
3. Listen to, read, and discuss the Buddha's teachings
4. Practice formal sitting meditation
5. Practice formal walking meditation
6. Practice mindfulness of daily activities
7. Reflect well over the food that we take
8. Extend loving-kindness to all

No doubt one could add other important things to the list too, but my short answer to the original question would be, “Yes, you can, but without formal sitting practice, it will be harder to deepen concentration and tranquillity. The restless and busy mind cannot focus on realities to understand their true nature.”

[Spiny Norman]

The question is though can you develop a momentum in the practice of Satipatthana without the support of formal sitting, I think that would be very difficult for most people.

That's certainly been my experience.

[tiltbillings]

Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

That is while we are doing our day to day normal activities.

Without a solid grounding in a formal practice, you will not get very far with a daily kitchen sink level practice. One of the things a formal practice will give you is a sense of, an understanding of, an experience of, mindfulness that that can then carry over into your daily life. Without that you are doing naught more than guessing and (to use a word popular on this forum) fabricating. Doing a couple of intensive retreats, such as the 10 day Goenka intensives (even you choose not to do the Goenka style at home) can give you a good introduction to the experience of mindfulness and concentration. Also, an ongoing daily formal practice is important in maintaining the momentum of practice.

[daverupa]

Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

That is while we are doing our day to day normal activities.

Without a solid grounding in a formal practice, you will not get very far with a daily kitchen sink level practice.

The Gradual Training states exactly the reverse of this.

[Spiny Norman]

The Gradual Training states exactly the reverse of this.

So is the emphasis on sitting meditation a western thing?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

The Gradual Training states exactly the reverse of this.

Yes, I think that's so. In fact, in a recent topic I gave reasons why I think the bhikkhus in the audience for the Satipatthana Sutta were all at least sotapanna.

Metta,
Retro.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

The three training of morality, concentration, and wisdom should not be thought of as three steps on a ladder, but as the three legs of a tripod. They each support the other two.

Newly ordained monks were trained in mindfulness from day one, how to wear the robe, how to carry the bowl, how to receive alms and eat paying attention to the almsbowl, etc. It is all mindfulness of daily activities. However, I am sure that they were also instructed in formal sitting and walking meditation too. That didn't happen only after they had become fully accomplished in morality.

Without gaining mental tranquillity by doing ānāpāna etc., one won't remember all of the minute Vinaya rules.

[bodom]

This is the Budhas advice:

"First establish yourself in the starting point of wholesome states, that is, in purified moral discipline and in right view. Then, when your moral discipline is purified and your view straight, you should practice the four foundations of mindfulness" (SN 47:3)

[tiltbillings]

Can we practice Satipatthana without a formal sitting?

That is while we are doing our day to day normal activities.

Without a solid grounding in a formal practice, you will not get very far with a daily kitchen sink level practice.

The Gradual Training states exactly the reverse of this.

Elaborate, please.

[daverupa]

Elaborate, please.

As soon, brahman, as he is possessed of mindfulness and clear consciousness, the Tathagata disciplines him further, saying: 'Come you, monk, choose a remote lodging in a forest, at the root of a tree, on a mountain slope, in a glen, a hill cave, a cemetery, a woodland grove, in the open, or on a heap of straw.

Most people seem to choose remote lodgings far earlier than this, but we can see that there are preliminary steps: Sila in many ways, of course, but then Guarding the Senses (GS), Mindfulness & Clear Comprehension (M&CC), and Contentment with Little (CwL). This is the kitchen sink.

Now, satipatthana (in any posture) is the framework for all of this; seated satipatthana is possible on its own, but it can also be the framework for a concerted effort - anapanasati - that is designed to lead into jhana. One must be well-possessed of the preceding Path aspects for it to be well-advised to retreat into solitude.

So yes: for the most part, modern/Western Buddhist folk are practicing the doorway into jhana long before they have even made a concerted effort at mindfulness each hour, to say nothing of each mouthful of food...