Samyuktagama (Sanskrit fragments) 612.4-6

612.4

爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「如人執持四種強弓，大力方便射多羅樹影，疾過無閡。如是如來四種聲聞，增上方便，利根智慧，盡百年壽，於如來所百年說法教授，唯除食息、[示*甫]寫、睡眠，中間常說、常聽；智慧明利，於如來所說，盡底受持，無諸障閡，於如來所不加再問。如來說法無有終極，聽法盡壽，百歲命終，如來說法猶不能盡。當知如來所說無量無邊，名、句、味身亦復無量，無有終極，所謂四念處。何等為四？謂身念處，受、心、法念處。」

At that time the Bhagavat said to the bhikṣus: "Suppose a man took up four strong bows and, with great strength and skill, shot at the shadow of a palm tree, swiftly passing through it without hindrance. In the same way, if the Tathāgata had four śrāvakas of superior skill, sharp faculties, and wisdom, who lived out their full lifespan of a hundred years, and for a hundred years at the Tathāgata's dwelling the Tathāgata taught the Dharma and instructed them, with only eating, resting, relieving themselves, and sleeping excluded, continuously speaking and continuously listening in the interim; and if their wisdom were sharp and clear so that they thoroughly understood and retained all that the Tathāgata taught, without any obstacle, and never asked again at the Tathāgata's place—the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dharma would still have no end; they would listen to the Dharma for their entire lives and die at the age of a hundred, yet the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dharma would still not be exhausted. You should know that what the Tathāgata teaches is measureless and boundless, and the groups of names, phrases, and syllables are also measureless, having no end; that is to say, the four smṛtyupasthānas. What are the four? They are the smṛtyupasthāna of the body, and the smṛtyupasthānas of feelings, mind, and dharmas."

It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Suppose a person holds the four kinds of bow and shoots an arrow with great strength and skill at a palm tree’s shadow. It will fly past it without being blocked. Thus are the progress, skill, sharp faculties, and wisdom of the Tathāgata’s four kinds of disciple. For a whole hundred-year lifespan, they are taught a hundred years’ worth of the Tathāgata’s teaching and instruction. The only time that’s not the case is when they stop to eat, mend, bathe, or sleep. In between, they always discuss and always listen [to his teaching]. Wise, insightful, and sharp, they fully fathom, accept, and retain the Tathāgata’s teaching without obstacles. They don’t need to ask repeated questions of the Tathāgata. The Tathāgata’s teachings have no final ending. Listening to them for an entire lifetime, the Tathāgata’s teachings would still be unending when a person’s life ends after a hundred years.

“You should know that the Tathāgata’s teachings are measureless and limitless. Their bodies of names, lines, and themes are also measureless and without any final end. That teaching is the four abodes of mindfulness. What are the four? They are the mindful abode of body … feelings … mind … the mindful abode of principles. (7.11 adds this conclusion:) Therefore, monks, cultivation of these four abodes of mindfulness produces motivation. With energy, technique, right mindfulness, and right knowledge, you should train yourselves.”

612.5

佛說此經已，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。

When the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha had said, rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.

After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

612.6

一切四念處經，皆以此總句，所謂「是故，比丘！於四念處修習，起增上欲，精勤方便，正念正智，應當學。」

All the sūtras on the four smṛtyupasthānas conclude with this general phrasing: 'Therefore, bhikṣus, you should cultivate the four smṛtyupasthānas, arouse superior desire, exert diligent effort and skillful means, have right mindfulness and right awareness, and so you should train.'