85. Contemplating Foulness

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Asubhānupassī, bhikkhave, kāyasmiṁ viharatha;

ānāpānassati ca vo ajjhattaṁ parimukhaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hotu;

sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassino viharatha.

Asubhānupassīnaṁ, bhikkhave, kāyasmiṁ viharataṁ yo subhāya dhātuyā rāgānusayo so pahīyati.

Ānāpānassatiyā ajjhattaṁ parimukhaṁ sūpaṭṭhititāya ye bāhirā vitakkāsayā vighātapakkhikā, te na honti.

Sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassīnaṁ viharataṁ yā avijjā sā pahīyati, yā vijjā sā uppajjatī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Asubhānupassī kāyasmiṁ,

ānāpāne paṭissato;

Sabbasaṅkhārasamathaṁ,

passaṁ ātāpi sabbadā.

Sa ve sammaddaso bhikkhu,

yato tattha vimuccati;

Abhiññāvosito santo,

sa ve yogātigo munī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, live contemplating the foulness of the body. Let mindfulness of breathing be inwardly well established before you. Live contemplating the impermanence of all formations.

“For those who live contemplating foulness in the body, the tendency to lust with regard to the element of beauty is abandoned. When mindfulness of breathing is inwardly well established before one, the tendencies of extraneous thoughts to produce vexation of mind remain no more. For those who live contemplating the impermanence of all formations, ignorance is abandoned and knowledge arises.”

Contemplating foulness in the body,
Being mindful of in-and-out breathing,
Ever ardent and seeing clearly
The calming down of all formations:

Such a bhikkhu who sees rightly
Is thereby well released.
Accomplished in knowledge, at peace,
That sage has overcome all bonds.