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What is the relationship between the definitions of sampajañña (clear comprehension) in SN 47.2 and SN 47.35?

From SN 47.35 (translated by Bodhi):

“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

From SN 47.2 (translated by Bodhi):

“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is one who acts with clear comprehension when going forward and returning; when looking ahead and looking aside; when drawing in and extending the limbs; when wearing his robes and carrying his outer robe and bowl; when eating, drinking, chewing his food, and tasting; when defecating and urinating; when walking, standing, sitting, falling asleep, waking up, speaking, and keeping silent. It is in such a way that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

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And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

SN 47.35

The above means feelings, perceptions & thoughts are clearly understood in terms of the Dhamma, namely, they are impermanent, not-self, not to be clung to.

Note: This is not vipassana, namely, observing arising & passing of feelings, perceptions & thoughts. It is understanding feelings, perceptions & thoughts, including when they are purposefully used. Thus, when speaking to another, for example, the mind understands: "These thoughts are conventions, subjective, not to be clung to, etc".

And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is one who acts with clear comprehension when going forward and returning; when looking ahead and looking aside; when drawing in and extending the limbs; when wearing his robes and carrying his outer robe and bowl; when eating, drinking, chewing his food, and tasting; when defecating and urinating; when walking, standing, sitting, falling asleep, waking up, speaking, and keeping silent. It is in such a way that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.

SN 47.2

The above is exactly the same. When walking, the monk has clear-comprehension, such as: "I am monk; I must walk so I make a good public impression" or "I am a monk; I must eat non-hurriedly; so I make a good public impression"; or the monk reflects: "This walking is not self" (such as when Rahula was walking behind the Buddha in MN 62 and the Buddha rebuked Rahula for regarding the Buddha as a "self" or with "beauty").

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In line with what I said in my other answer, both are descriptions of self-awareness, of not getting carried away by the circumstances.

This does not refer to "zombie bare awareness" executed mechanically, but to normal, pragmatic, careful self-awareness of an intelligent person.

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  • Yes, unfortunately, a lot of modern mindfulness teachers seem to be teaching it wrongly. They teach "Be aware in the present moment and simply observe X without judging" when it should be "Don't forget to keep observing X and thoroughly understanding the arising, changing and ceasing of X without judging", where X refers to body, feelings, thoughts and phenomena, and "without judging" means actively removing greed and aversion.
    – ruben2020 ♦
    Commented Mar 17, 2019 at 3:33
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    Yup. Not just arising/ceasing and removing greed/aversion, but also seeing any biases, attachments, egoistic motives, defensiveness, self-promotion etc.
    – Andriy Volkov ♦
    Commented Mar 17, 2019 at 3:52
  • I'll group "biases, attachments, egoistic motives, defensiveness, self-promotion" under views. So, removing greed, aversion and views.
    – ruben2020 ♦
    Commented Mar 17, 2019 at 4:11
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The difference is, in the 4 jhanas, SN 47.35 is the more suitable range of activity, since one is typically doing quiet sitting with eyes closed. SN 47.35 is the same as a portion AN 4.41, which clearly puts it in the 4 jhanas and samadhi development context. Standard 3rd jhana formula, explicitly states one has sati and sampajano.

Outside of 4 jhanas, S&S sati and sampajano do not shut off, they continue working, but with a dyanmic range of activity as SN 47.2 gives examples for.

sampajano in both SN 47.35 and SN 47.2 mean the same thing, sampajano is one who is lucidly-discerning, or clearly-comprehending exactly what they're doing every moment.

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