In the Buddhist tradition, satipaṭṭhāna (Pāli; Skt. smṛtyupasthāna) refers to the establishing, foundation (paṭṭhāna; pasthāna) or presence (upaṭṭhāna; upasthāna) of "mindfulness" (sati; smṛti). The Buddha taught the establishing of mindfulness as the 'direct path' (Ekāyano maggo) to the realisation of nirvana. Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā means the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, bases for maintaining moment-by-moment mindfulness and for developing mindfulness through meditation. In contemporary times the practice is most associated with Theravada Buddhism. The method is also known as Vipassana meditation.

The four foundations of mindfulness are:

• mindfulness of the body (Pali: kāyā): kāyasati and/or kāyagatāsati (S. kāyasmṛti)
• mindfulness of feelings (or sensations) (vedanā): vedanāsati (S. vedanāsmṛti)
• mindfulness of mind (or consciousness) (cittā): cittasati (S. cittasmṛti)
• mindfulness of phenomena (or qualities) (dhammā): dhammāsati (S. dharmasmṛti)