Satipatthana Sutta Study

Body: Death and Decay

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[CORPSE IN DECAY]

Again, monks,

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground –
one, two, or three days
dead, bloated, livid, and oozing matter
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
being devoured by crows, hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals,
or various kinds of worms
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'


[REFRAIN]

In this way,
in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body internally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body externally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing away in the body.

Mindfulness that 'there is a body'
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That too is how in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body.


as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
a skeleton with flesh and blood, held together with sinews
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
a fleshless skeleton smeared with blood, held together with sinews
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
a skeleton without flesh and blood, held together with sinews
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'


[REFRAIN]

In this way,
in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body internally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body externally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing away in the body.

Mindfulness that 'there is a body'
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That too is how in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body.


as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
disconnected bones scattered in all directions
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
bones bleached white, the colour of shells
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
bones heaped up, more than a year old
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'

as though s/he were to see a corpse
thrown aside in a charnel ground
bones rotten and crumbling to dust
s/he compares this same body with it thus:
'this body too is of the same nature,
it will be like that,
it is not exempt from that fate.'


[REFRAIN]

In this way,
in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body internally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body externally,
or s/he abides contemplating the body both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in the body,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing away in the body.

Mindfulness that 'there is a body'
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That too is how in regard to the body s/he abides contemplating the body.

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Satipatthana Sutta Study - © 2005 Mary Rees
Sutta text modified from translation by Analayo. Please see his original translation and excellent commentary: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003.