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11. Sosānikaṅgakathā[xi. The Charnel-Ground-Dweller’s Practice]
Sosānikaṅgampi ‘‘na susānaṃ paṭikkhipāmi,xi. The charnel-ground-dweller’s practice is undertaken with one of the following statements: “I refuse what is not a charnel ground”
sosānikaṅgaṃ samādiyāmī’’ti imesaṃ aññataravacanena samādinnaṃ hoti.or “I undertake the charnel-ground-dweller’s practice.”
Tena pana sosānikena yaṃ manussā gāmaṃ nivesantā ‘‘idaṃ susāna’’nti vavatthapenti, na tattha vasitabbaṃ.Now, the charnel-ground dweller should not live in some place just because the people who built the village have called it “the charnel ground”
Na hi matasarīre ajjhāpite taṃ susānaṃ nāma hoti,for it is not a charnel ground unless a dead body has been burnt on it.
jhāpitakālato pana paṭṭhāya sacepi dvādasavassāni chaḍḍitaṃ, taṃ susānameva.But as soon as one has been burnt on it, it becomes a charnel ground. And even if it has been neglected for a dozen years, it is so still.
Tasmiṃ pana vasantena caṅkamamaṇḍapādīni kāretvā mañcapīṭhaṃ paññapetvā pānīyaparibhojanīyaṃ upaṭṭhāpetvā dhammaṃ vācentena na vasitabbaṃ.One who dwells there should not be the sort of person who gets walks, pavilions, etc., built, has beds and chairs set out and drinking and washing water kept ready, and preaches Dhamma;
Garukaṃ hi idaṃ dhutaṅgaṃ, tasmā uppannaparissayavighātatthāya saṅghattheraṃ vā rājayuttakaṃ vā jānāpetvā appamattena vasitabbaṃ.for this ascetic practice is a momentous thing. Whoever goes to live there should be diligent. And he should first inform the senior elder of the Order or the king’s local representative in order to prevent trouble.
Caṅkamantena addhakkhikena āḷāhanaṃ olokentena caṅkamitabbaṃ.When he walks up and down, he should do so looking at the pyre with half an eye.
Susānaṃ gacchantenāpi mahāpathā ukkamma uppathamaggena gantabbaṃ. Divāyeva ārammaṇaṃ vavatthapetabbaṃ.On his way to the charnel ground he should avoid the main roads and take a by-path. He should define all the objects [there] while it is day,
Evañhissa taṃ rattiṃ bhayānakaṃ na bhavissati, amanussā rattiṃ viravitvā viravitvā āhiṇḍantāpi na kenaci paharitabbā.so that they will not assume frightening shapes for him at night. Even if non-human beings wander about screeching, he must not hit them with anything.
Ekadivasampi susānaṃ agantuṃ na vaṭṭati.It is not allowed to miss going to the charnel ground even for a single day.
Majjhimayāmaṃ susāne khepetvā pacchimayāme paṭikkamituṃ vaṭṭatīti aṅguttarabhāṇakā.The reciters of the Aṅguttara say that after spending the middle watch in the charnel ground he is allowed to leave in the last watch.
Amanussānaṃ piyaṃ tilapiṭṭhamāsabhattamacchamaṃsakhīratelaguḷādikhajjabhojjaṃ na sevitabbaṃ.He should not take such foods as sesame flour, pease pudding, fish, meat, milk, oil, sugar, etc., which are liked by non-human beings.
Kulagehaṃ na pavisitabbanti idamassa vidhānaṃ.He should not enter the homes of families.[^16] These are the directions for it.
Pabhedato pana ayampi tividho hoti.This has three grades too.
Tattha ukkaṭṭhena yattha dhuvaḍāhadhuvakuṇapadhuvarodanāni atthi, tattheva vasitabbaṃ.Herein, one who is strict should live where there are always burnings and corpses and mourning.
Majjhimassa tīsu ekasmimpi sati vaṭṭati. Mudukassa vuttanayena susānalakkhaṇaṃ pattamatte vaṭṭati.The medium one is allowed to live where there is one of these three. The mild one is allowed to live in a place that possesses the bare characteristics of a charnel ground already stated.
Imesaṃ pana tiṇṇampi na susānamhi vāsaṃ kappanena dhutaṅgaṃ bhijjati.When any one of these three makes his abode in some place not a charnel ground, his ascetic practice is broken.
Susānaṃ agatadivaseti aṅguttarabhāṇakā. Ayamettha bhedo.It is on the day on which he does not go to the charnel ground, the Aṅguttara reciters say. This is the breach in this case.
Ayaṃ panānisaṃso maraṇassatipaṭilābho, appamādavihāritā, asubhanimittādhigamo, kāmarāgavinodanaṃ,The benefits are these. He acquires mindfulness of death; he lives diligently; the sign of foulness is available (see Ch. VI); greed for sense desires is removed;
abhiṇhaṃ kāyasabhāvadassanaṃ, saṃvegabahulatā ārogyamadādippahānaṃ, bhayabheravasahanatā, amanussānaṃ garubhāvanīyatā, appicchatādīnaṃ anulomavuttitāti.he constantly sees the body’s true nature; he has a great sense of urgency; he abandons vanity of health, etc.; he vanquishes fear and dread (MN 4); non-human beings respect and honour him; he lives in conformity with [the principles of] fewness of wishes, and so on.
Sosānikañhi maraṇānusatippabhāvā, Niddāgatampi na phusanti pamādadosā; Sampassato ca kuṇapāni bahūni tassa, Kāmānubhāvavasagampi na hoti cittaṃ.Even in sleep the dweller in a charnel ground shows naught Of negligence, for death is ever present to his thought; He may be sure there is no lust after sense pleasure preys Upon his mind, with many corpses present to his gaze.
Saṃvegameti vipulaṃ na madaṃ upeti, Sammā atho ghaṭati nibbutimesamāno; Sosānikaṅgamitinekaguṇāvahattā, Nibbānaninnahadayena nisevitabbanti.Rightly he strives because he gains a sense of urgency, While in his search for final peace he curbs all vanity. Let him that feels a leaning to Nibbāna in his heart Embrace this practice for it has rare virtues to impart.
Ayaṃ sosānikaṅge samādānavidhānappabhedabhedānisaṃsavaṇṇanā.This is the commentary on the undertaking, directions, grades, breach, and benefits, in the case of the charnel-ground dweller’s practice.