MAJJHIMA NIKAAYA III
II. 3. 5. Maagandiyasutta.m
III.
2. 9. Kaayagataasatisutta.m - Mindfulness established in the Body.(119)
I
heard thus.At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by
Anaathapindika in Jeta’s grove in Saavatthi.Then to the bhkikkhus assembled
in the attendance hall after the mid-day meal, this talk arose..’Friends,
it is wonderful, the Blessed One who knows and sees, is perfect and rightfully
enlightened has said that mindfulness established in the body, developped
and made much, brings much results and great results.’ When this conversation
was going on, the Blessed One got up from his seclusion, in the evening,
approched the attendance hall, sat on the prepared seat and addressed the
bhikkhus. ‘Bhikkhus, with what talk were you seated here and what was the
other conversation?’
‘Venerable
sir, we were assembled in the attendance hall after the mid-day meal, then
this talk arose..among us. Friends, it is wonderful, the Blessed One who
knows and sees, is perfect and rightfully enlightened has said that mindfulness
ofthe body in the body, developped
and made much, brings much results and great results.When this conversation
was going on, the Blessed One arrived.’
‘Bhikkhus,
mindfulness of the body in the body developped and made much in which manner
brings much results and great results? The bhikkhu, gone to the forest,
or to the root of a tree, or to an empty house, sits legs crossed, the
body straight, and mindfulness established in front. Mindfully he breathes
in or breathes out. Breathing in long knows, I breathe in long. Breathing
out long knows, I breathe out long.Breathing in short knows, I breathe
in short. Breathing out short knows, I breathe out short. Trains, calming
the bodily determination I breathe in. Trains,calming
the bodily determination I breathe out. When he abides diligent to dispel,
worldly thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established in
a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of
the body in the body is developped.
Again,
bhikkhus, the bhikkhu going knows, I go. Or standing knows, I stand. Or
sitting knows, I sit. Or lying knows, I lie. In whatever manner his body
is placed, that and that he knows When he abides diligent to dispel, worldly
thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established in a single
point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of the body
in the body is developped.
Again
the bhikkhu becomes aware, going forward or turning back, looking on, or
looking about, bending or stretching, Becomes aware bearing the three robes
and bowl, Becomes aware enjoying, drinking, eating or tasting. Becomes
aware going, standing, sitting, lying, speaking, or keeping silence.When
he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections fade and
his mind gets established in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in
this manner too mindfulness of the body in the body is developped.
Again,
the bhikkhu abides reflecting this body up from the sole, down from the
hair on the top and surrounded by the skin as full of various impurities.
There are in this body, hair of the head and body, nails, teeth, skin,
flesh, veins, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen,
lungs, lower intestines, bowels, stomach, excreta, bile, phlegm, pus, blood,
sweat, fat, tears, eye secretions, saliva, snot, oil of joints, urine,Just
like a bag of provisions open on both sides, is filled up with various
grains such as rice, paddy, green grams, beans, sesame, fine rice. A man
who could see would pull it out and reflect, this is rice, this paddy,
this green grams, this beans, this sesame, and this is fine rice. In the
same manner the bhikkhu abides reflecting this body, up from the sole,
down from the hair on the top and surrounded by the skin as full of various
impurities. There are in this body, hair of the head and body, nails, teeth,
skin, flesh, veins, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura,
spleen, lungs, lower intestines, bowels, stomach, excreta, bile, phlegm,
pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, eye secretions, saliva, snot, oil of joints
and urine.When he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections
fade and his mind gets established in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus,
in this manner too mindfulness of the body in the body is developped
Again
the bhikkhu abides reflecting this body as elements in whatever posture
it is. There are in this body, the elements, earth, water, fire and air.Just
as a clever butcher or his apprenticewould
be seated in a hut at the four cross roads with a killed cow dissecting
it into small bits. In the same manner, in this body, there are the elements
earth, water, fire and air.When he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts
and recollections fade and his mind gets established in a single point
concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of the body in the
body is developped
Again,
the bhikkhu reflects this body as a dead body thrown in the charnel ground,
either after one day, two days or three days, bloated, turned blue and
festering. This body too is subject to that same,has
not gone beyond it. When he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts
and recollections fade and his mind gets established in a single point
concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of the body in the
body is developped .
Again,
the bhikkhu abides reflectingthis
body as a dead body thrown in the charnel ground eaten by hawks, vultures,
dogs, foxes, or by various other living things. This body too is subject
to that same, has not gone beyond it.Again,
the bhikkhu abides reflectingthis
body as a dead body thrown in the charnel ground eaten by hawks, vultures,
dogs, foxes, or by various other living things. This body too is subject
to that same, has not gone beyond it.
Again,
bhikkhus, the bhikkhu reflects this body as thrown in the charnel ground,
as a skeleton with flesh and blood bound with nerves, as a skeleton without
flesh, smeared with blood and bound with nerves, as a skeleton without
flesh and blood, bound with nerves, as a skeleton not bound together, thrown
here and there, the bones of the hands here and the bones of the legs there,
the knee bone, the thigh bones, the hip bone, the back bone, and the skull
thrown here and there. Then he considers, to this body too this same would
happen, it has not gone beyond that.
When
he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections fade and
his mind gets established in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in
this manner too mindfulness of the body in the body is developped.
Again,
bhikkhus, the bhikkhu reflects this body as thrown in the charnel ground,
as bones turned white the colour of shells, as rotted bones, as bones three
years old, decayed and turned to dust Then he considers, to this body too
this same would happen, it has not gone beyond that.When he abides diligent
to dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established
in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness
of the body in the body is developped.
Again
the bhikkhu secluding the mind from sensual thoughts and defiling thoughts.
With thoughts and thought processes, and with joy and pleasantness born
of seclusion, abides in the first jhaana. He pervades this body, perfects
it and fills it up with joy and pleasantness born of seclusion.Does not
leave a single spot untouched with that joy and pleasantness born of seclusion.
Bhikkhus, like a bather or his apprentice, would place some bathing powder
in a bronze vessel, would mix it sprinkling water and turning itinto
a ball of lather.He would mix it well, until the lather becomes a ball
and nothing would trickle down from it. In the same manner he would pervade
this body, perfect itand fill it
up with the joy and pleasantness born of seclusion, not leaving a single
spot untouched with that joy and pleasantness.When he abides diligent to
dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established
in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness
of the body in the body is developped.
Again,
the bhikkhu overcoming,thoughtsand
thought processes, would bring the mind to a single point appeasing it
internally. And without thoughts and thought processes and with joy and
pleasantness born of concentration would abide in the second jhaana. Then
he would pervade this body, perfect it and fill it up with joy and pleasantness
born of concentration. He would not leave a single spot untouched with
that joy and pleasantness born of concentration. Like a deep pond without
inlets from the east, west, north or south, is filled up with cool water
springing from the bottom. Rain water too would not enter it.The cool water
coming up, would fill it flowing all round and completing it, not leaving
a single spot untouched by that cold water. In the same manner he pervades
this body, perfects it and fills it up with joy and pleasantness born of
concentration.Would not leave a single spot untouched with the joy and
pleasantness born of concentration. When he abides diligent to dispel,
worldly thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established in
a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of
the body in the body is developped...
Again,
the bhikkhu, with equanimity to joy and detachment, would abide mindful
and aware, experiencing pleasantness too with the body and abide in the
third jhaana.To this the noble ones say abiding in pleasantness with equanimity.Then
he pervades this body, perfects it, fills it up with pleasantness devoid
of joy. Wouldnot leave a single
spot untouched with that pleasantness devoid of joy. Like, ofblue,red
and white lotuses that grow in a pond, some areborn,grow,develop,
nourish and bloomin the water. Their
tops and roots are pervaded with the cold water and they do not have a
place not touched with the cold water. In the same manner he pervades this
body, perfects it, and fills it up with pleasantness devoid of joy, touchingeverything
with that pleasantness. When he abides diligent to dispel, worldly thoughts
and recollections fade and his mind gets established in a single point
concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness of the body in the
body is developped.
Again
the bhikkhu, dispelling pleasantness and unpleasantness, and earlier over
coming,pleasure and displeasure,
with mindfulness purified with equanimity abides in the fourth jhaana.
Then.he sits pervading the whole body with that pure and clean mind, not
leaving out any spot. Like a man who has covered himself with a white cloth
together with the head, without leaving out anything. In the same manner
he sits pervading the whole body with that pure clean mind, not leaving
out any spot untouched with the pure clean mind. When he abides diligent
to dispel, worldly thoughts and recollections fade and his mind gets established
in a single point concentrated. Bhikkhus, in this manner too mindfulness
of the body in the body is developped.
Bhikkhus,
to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the body are developped
and made much his thoughts of merit are intense with knowledge. Bhikkhus,
just as whoseever mind is intensely spread to the great ocean, to him all
rivulets are bent to the great ocean. In the same manner to whomever bhikkhu
mindfulness of the body in the body is developped and made much his thoughts
of merit are intense with knowledge. Bhikkhus, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness
of the body in the body is not developped and not made much, Death finds
access to him. Death finds a sign in him.*1) Like a man putting a huge
stone in a lump of wet mud. Bhikkhus, would the huge stone find access
into the lump of wet mud?
‘Venerable
sir, it would.find access.’
‘In
the same manner, bhikkhus, a man come to a dry sapless log with an overcover,
saying, I will light a fire, and make fire. Bhikkhus, that man, come to
the dry sapless log of wood with the overcover rubbing it with the overcover
would he light a fire and make fire?’
‘Venerable
sir, he would light a fire.’
‘Bhikkhus,
in the same manner, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the
body is not developped and not made much, Death finds access to him. Death
finds a sign in him.*1) Like when there is an empty water vessel standing
upright a man comes with a load of water. Bhikkhus, would it be possible
for that man to fill the water vessel?
‘Yes,
venerable sir, it would be possible.’
‘Bhikkhuz,
in the same manner to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the body
is not developped and not made much, Death finds access to him. Death finds
a sign in him.
‘Bhikkhus,
in the same manner, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the
body is developped and made much, Death will not find access to him. Death
will not find a sign in him. Like a man who would put a small ball of thread
on a well formed cross bar. Bhikkhus, do you think it would find access
in the well formed cross bar?’
‘Venerable
sir, it would not.’ .
‘In
the same manner bhikkhus, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in
the body is developped and made much, Death will not find access to him.
Death will not find a sign in him. Like a man come to a wet sappy log with
an overcover, saying, I will light a fire, and make fire. Bhikkhus, that
man, come to the wet sappy log of wood with the overcover rubbing it with
the overcover would he light a fire and make fire?’
‘Venerable
sir, he would not light a fire.’
‘Bhikkhus,
in the same manner, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the
body is developped and made much, Death will not find access to him. Death
will not find a sign in him. Like when there is a water vessel standing
upright full to the brim, a man comes with a load of water. Bhikkhus, would
it be possible for that man to fill the water vessel?
‘No,
venerable sir, it would not be possible.’
‘In
the same manner bhikkhus, to whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in
the body is developped and made much, Death will not find access to him.
Death will not find a sign in him.
Mindfulness
of the body in the body developped and made much, directed for the realization
of
whatever
higher knowledge, becomes the eye witness in that and that sphere. As there
is a vessel with water filled to the brim, then a strong man comes, in
whatever manner he considers, about it, it’s water.
Mindfulness
of the body in the body developped and made much, when directed for the
realization of
whatever
higher knowledge, it becomes the eye witness in that and that sphere.*2)
As on level ground, there is a square pond with embankments, filled to
the brim, a strong man comes and opens the enbankments in some manner,
isn’t it water that comes out?’
‘Venerable
sir, it is water?’
‘Bhikkhus,
in the same manner mindfulness of the body in the body developped and made
much, when directed for the realization of
whatever
higher knowledge, it becomes the eye witness in that and that sphere. As
on level ground, on the four cross roads, stands a carriage yoked to thoroughbreds,
ready with whip and reins. A trainer of horses comes, ascends the carriage
and taking the reins in the left hand and the whip in the right,goes
where he likes and recalls. In the same manner mindfulness of the body
in the body developped and made much, directed for the realization of
whatever
higher knowledge, becomes the eye witness in that and that sphere.
Bhikkhus,
mindfulness of the body in the body, practised, developped, made much,
made the vehicle, made the foundation, indulged in the practise with aroused
effort, I declare ten benefits. What are the ten?
Overcoming
whatever dislikes lives with like and dislike Overcoming whatever fears
lives without fears. Endures cold and heat, hunger and thirst, the sting
of gad flies and yellow flies, the heat of the air, the sting of serpents
and creepings, badly enunciated words with hurtful contacts. Endures bodily
unpleasant feelings that are sharp piercing and unwelcome Becomes a quick
and easy gainer of the four jhaanas, the high and pleasant abidings of
the mind, here and now. Partakes of various supernormal powers, such as
one becomes many and many becomes one. Goes unobstructed across walls,
embankments, rocks, like going in space. Dives in and out of earth as though
in water. Goes unbroken on water as though on earth. Abides in space like
birds large and small. Touches and rubs off with the hand, even the moon
and sun, so powerful as they are. Thus wields power with the body as far
as the world of Brahmaa. With the heavenly ear purified beyond human hears
both sounds, heavenly and human, far and near. Penetrates and sees the
minds of other beings. Sees the greedy mind, the not greedy mind, the angry
mind, the not angry mind, the deluded mind and the not deluded mind. Knows
the contracted mind, the distracted mind, the developped mind, the undevelopped
mind, the noble mindand the mind
without compare. Knows the concentrated mind, the unconcentrated mind,
the released mind and the unreleased mind. Recollects the manifold previous
births. Such as one birth, two births ...re.....with all modes and details
the various previous births. With the purified heavenly eye beyond human
sees beings disappearing and appearing in unexalted and exalted states,
beautiful and ugly, in good and bad states.
Sees
beings according to their actions. Destroying desires, the mind released
from desires and released through wisdom, here and now by oneself realizing
abides.
Bhikkhus,
mindfulness of the body in the body, practised, developped, made much,
made the vehicle, made the foundation, indulged in the practise with aroused
effort, I declare these ten benefits.
The
Blessed One said thus and those bhikkhus delighted in the words of the
Blessed One
Notes.
1. To whomever bhikkhu mindfulness of the body in the body is not developped
and made much, Death finds access to him. ‘Yassa kassaci bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
kaayagataa sati abhaavitaa abahuliitakaa labhati tassa Maaro otara.m. labhati
tassa Maaro aarammana.m.’ ‘Maara’ though alluded to a supernormal being,
here it means the defilements in the thoughts.of the bhikkhu.
2. Mindfulness of the body in the body developped and made much, when directed to the realization of whatever higher knowledge, it becomes the eye witness in that and that sphere.’Yassa kassaci bhikkhave kaayagataa sati bhaavitaa bahuliikataa, so yassa yassa abhi~n~naa sacchikaraniiyassa dhammassa citta.m abhininnaameti abhi~n~naasacchikiriyaaya tatra tatr’eva sakkhibhavyata.m paapunaati sati sati aayatane. The thorough development of mindfulness of the body in the body, leads the bhikku for the realization of the higher knowledges. It is said that, that developped mindfulness, is the eye witness of those higher knowledges. There is no other evidence of these attainments.