Satipatthana Sutta Study

Body and Elements

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[ELEMENTS]

Again, monks, s/he reviews this same body,
however it is placed,
however disposed,
as consisting of elements thus:

'in this body there are the earth element,
the water element,
the fire element,
and the air element'.

Just as though a skilled butcher or his apprentice
had killed a cow
and was seated at a crossroads with it cut up into pieces;

so too s/he reviews this same body
however it is placed,
however disposed,
as consisting of elements thus:

in this body there are the earth element,
the water element,
the fire element,
and the air element'.


[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.