The concept of Satipatthana

Hi.

Satipatthana is the practice of “Sati”, the maintaining a constant attention on the here and now and is a part of the the “eightfold path”.
Patthana can be translatated as ”placement” or “attachingpoint”.
So Satipatthana can be translated as “to put the attention “ or “attachingpoint of attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana_sutta

Found some comments on how you can approach this text or Sati.

In support of a single-method practice, Analāyo (2006), p. 22, comments:

Several [Pali Canon] discourses relate the practice of a single satipaṭṭhāna directly to realization. Similarly, the commentaries assign to each single satipaṭṭhāna meditation the capacity to lead to full awakening. This may well be why a high percentage of present-day meditation teachers focus on the use of a single meditation technique, on the ground that a single-minded and thorough perfection of one meditation technique can cover all aspects of satipaṭṭhāna, and thus be sufficient to gain realization.

Among those teachers who Analāyo uses to exemplify this teaching method are S. N. Goenka and Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo. While justifying such a practice, Analāyo (2006), p. 23, nonetheless adds this caveat:

Thus any single meditation practice from the satipaṭṭhāna scheme is capable of leading to deep insight.... Nonetheless, an attempt to cover all four satipaṭṭhānas in one's practice ... ensures speedy progress and a balanced and comprehensive development.

Thanissaro (2000) writes:

At first glance, the four frames of reference for satipatthana practice sound like four different meditation exercises, but MN 118 (anapanasati sutta) makes clear that they can all center on a single practice: keeping the breath in mind. When the mind is with the breath, all four frames of reference are right there. The difference lies simply in the subtlety of one's focus. It's like learning to play the piano. As you get more proficient at playing, you also become sensitive in listening to ever more subtle levels in the music. This allows you to play even more skillfully. In the same way, as a meditator get more skilled in staying with the breath, the practice of satipatthana gives greater sensitivity in peeling away ever more subtle layers of participation in the present moment until nothing is left standing in the way of total release.

May the force be with you
Fugen