Saṁyutta Nikāya 46.57
Translators: sujato
Linked Discourses 46.57
7. Ānāpānavagga
7. Breathing
Aṭṭhikamahapphalasutta
A Skeleton
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
“Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.
“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.
Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā?
How so?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe…
It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of a skeleton together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.
Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.
That’s how the perception of a skeleton, when developed and cultivated, is very fruitful and beneficial.”
Aññataraphalasutta
“Aṭṭhikasaññāya, bhikkhave, bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā.
“When the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return.
Kathaṁ bhāvitāya ca kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññāya kathaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā?
How so?…”
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ bhāvitāya kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññāya evaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā”ti.
Mahatthasutta
“Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati.
“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great benefit.
Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati?
How so?…”
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattatī”ti.
Yogakkhemasutta
“Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati.
“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great sanctuary from the yoke.
Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati?
How so?…”
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattatī”ti.
Saṁvegasutta
“Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati.
“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great inspiration.
Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati?
How so?…”
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattatī”ti.
Phāsuvihārasutta
“Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati.
“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to dwelling in great ease.
Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati?
How so?…”
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattatī”ti
Paṭhamaṁ.