SMRITI (smṛti), Skt. , lit. “recollection, tradition.”
[Hinduism] This tradition distinguishes between two types of holy scripture: shrutị (revealed scriptures) and smriti. The latter includes all those texts based upon tradition. However, these are regarded as valid only when they are assumed to derive from a shruti. The category of smriti consists chiefly of the Vedāngas, the Shrauta and Grihya-Sūtras, the Manu-Samhitā, the Mahābhārata, the Rāmāyana, the Pūranas, and the Niti-Shāstras.
[Buddhism] (Pali, sati). The term smriti, which in Buddhism is understood as meaning “attention” or “mindfulness,” refers to mindfulness of all mental and physical activities. This is the “perfect mindfulness,” i.e., the seventh element of the eightfold path, one of the seven factors of enlightenment (bodhyanga), and one of the five powers (bala). It is seen as “perfect” because it serves the goal of Buddhism, the elimination of suffering. Since smriti is free from falsifying influences, it can bring insight into the transitory, unsatisfactory, and essenceless nature of all appearances. Such insight is the precondition for the attainment of freedom from suffering, or liberation. It is with this view that mindfulness is practiced in the “four foundations of mindfulness” (satipatthāna).
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on the Smriti
Books on Smriti