FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION

On the Myanmar New Year day which fell on 17^th April 1951, the then prime minister U Nu delivered a new year speech which was broadcast by the B.B.S. (Burmese Broadcasting Station). In that speech, he stressed the importance of vipassana meditation practice and urged the people to meditate for one or two months with a view to achieve the first stage of Magga-Sotapanna.

Accordingly, U San Thein, the then Secretary of the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization on 5th May 1951 evening (Sabbath day of Tagu- New Moon day or 14^th waxing day 1303 B.E) speaking from the B.B.S referred to the speech of the Prime Minister U Nu and explained about the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization. And then he talked about the efforts of Mahasi Sayadawgyi in preaching and teaching the vipassana meditation methods to yogis coming from all parts of the country. Finally he concluded by saying that with effect from that evening Sayadawgyi will give discourses on meditation practice in 4 parts on 4 consecutive Sabbath days.

The Sayadawgyi delivered the Discourse on Mahasatipatthana Sutta on that evening and also on next Sabbath days which fell on 13^th May, 20^th May and 28^th May 1951. Sayadawgyi’s Discourse, U Nu’s New Year speech and U San Thein’s introduction speeches were compiled together and the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization published the first edition in June 1951.

Since then, there have been 2 further editions up to now. The editors of “The Light of The Dhamma” magazine translated the Sayadawgyi’s Discourses into English and published in Vol III. No.4 issue of the magazine in August 1956. Since the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization had never published this English Text, we have now published it after nearly 60 years.

We are grateful to the editors of “The Light of The Dhamma” magazine for their English rendering and also to Dr.Win Naing Kyaw who brought the existence of this English Text to our notice and who had lent the original magazine of “The Light of The Dhamma” to the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization.

In our edition, we included a photo of the Venerable Mahasi Sayadawgyi and a brief sketch of his biography as well. Since we wish to publish the original discourse of Sayadawgyi as soon as possible, we have not translated the new year speech of the Prime Minister U Nu and introduction speech of U San Thein. We hope, in some future time, we may be able to translate these speeches into English and incorporate them in later editions.

We are also grateful to Department of Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for their kind permission granted to the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization to publish the Discourse in book form.

In conclusion we pray that the yogis be able to follow and practise the vipassana insight meditation in accordance with the explanations in this Discourse on the Four Applications of Mindfulness, thereby attain the eternal peace of Nibbana.

Dr. Tint Soe Lin

President

Buddha Sasana Nuggaha

Organization

August- 2015

Mahasatipattna-Sutta

This copy is First Edition published in August 2015 in which the grammar, punctuations and spellings of English words were corrected during November 2018 for the next Edition.

(1) English words corrected by “ Microsoft Words” in computer by Ma Soe Soe on 26.10.2018 and checked by U Khin Maung Oo on 2.11.2018 and - -8.2018.

(2) Pali words re-checked by ----------------------.

Note; the words in red are not to be uploaded in the website.