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But the monks who develop rememberfulness of death by wishing |
Yo ca khvāyaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāveti: |
to live as long as it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful … |
‘aho vatāhaṃ tadantaraṃ jīveyyaṃ yadantaraṃ ekaṃ ālopaṃ saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṃ manasi kareyyaṃ, bahu vata me kataṃ assā’ti. (5) |
| Yo cāyaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāveti: | |
or to live as long as it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out … |
‘aho vatāhaṃ tadantaraṃ jīveyyaṃ yadantaraṃ assasitvā vā passasāmi passasitvā vā assasāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṃ manasi kareyyaṃ, bahu vata me kataṃ assā’ti. (6) |
These are called monks who live diligently. They keenly develop rememberfulness of death for the ending of defilements. |
Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, bhikkhū appamattā viharanti tikkhaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāventi āsavānaṃ khayāya. (5–6.) |
So you should train like this: |
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ: |
‘We will live diligently. We will keenly develop rememberfulness of death for the ending of defilements.’ |
‘appamattā viharissāma, tikkhaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāvessāma āsavānaṃ khayāyā’ti. |
That’s how you should train.” |
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. |
"here, monks, (a) monk: |
♦ “idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu |
(as) day departs |
divase nikkhante |
(and) night returns, |
rattiyā patihitāya |
thus (he) reflects - |
iti paṭisañcikkhati — |
"many indeed (for) me, |
‘bahukā kho me |
(are) [potential] causes (of my) death - |
paccayā maraṇassa — |
(a) snake ** I might-be-bitten (by), |
ahi vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya, |
{or a} scorpion ** I might-be-stung (by), |
vicchiko vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya, |
{or a} hundred-footed [centipede] ** I might-be-bitten (by), |
sata-padī vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya; |
because-of-that my **** time-of-death [would arrive], |
tena me assa kāla-kiriyā, |
that (for) me, (would be an) obstacle. |
so mamassa antarāyo. |
| (death by illness) | |
{or} stumbling ** (I) might-fall, |
upakkhalitvā vā papateyyaṃ, |
{or} food ** ** eaten might-trouble {me}, |
bhattaṃ vā me bhuttaṃ byāpajjeyya, |
{or} bile ** ** might-provoke {me}, |
pittaṃ vā me kuppeyya, |
{or} phlegm ** ** might-provoke {me}, |
semhaṃ vā me kuppeyya, |
{or} stabbing ** ** [bodily] winds might-provoke {me}, |
satthakā vā me vātā kuppeyyuṃ; |
because-of-that my **** time-of-death [would arrive], |
tena me assa kāla-kiriyā, |
that (for) me, (would be an) obstacle. |
so mamassa antarāyo’ti. |
“This life, so very short, is led onward. |
Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, |
There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. |
Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; |
Seeing this peril in death, |
Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, |
you should do good deeds that bring happiness. |
Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahāni. |
And as the world is on fire |
Evaṃ āditto kho loko, |
with old age and death, |
jarāya maraṇena ca; |
you should rescue by giving, |
Nīharetheva dānena, |
for what’s given is rescued. |
dinnaṃ hoti sunīhataṃ. |
What is the advantage of often reflecting like this: ‘I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death’? |
Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṃ paṭicca ‘maraṇa-dhammomhi, maraṇaṃ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbaṃ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā? |
There are sentient beings who, drunk on the vanity of life, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. |
Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṃ jīvite jīvitamado, yena madena mattā kāyena duccaritaṃ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṃ caranti, manasā duccaritaṃ caranti. |
Reflecting often on this subject, they entirely give up the vanity of life, or at least reduce it. |
Tassa taṃ ṭhānaṃ abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhato yo jīvite jīvitamado so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti. |
‘When the perception of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It culminates in the deathless and ends with the deathless.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? |
‘Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṃsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṃ vuttaṃ kiñcetaṃ paṭicca vuttaṃ? |
When a monk often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of death, their mind draws back from attachment to life. … |
Maraṇasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṃ viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṃ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. |
'what-becomes (of) me (as) nights-(and)-days |
‘kathaṃ-bhūtassa me rattin-divā |
fly past? |
[thai: vītipatantīti] vītivattantī’ti |
… |
… |
'Is (there) not indeed (in) me, |
‘atthi nu kho me |
(a) superior human-☸Dharma-[attainment], |
uttari manussa-dhammo |
(a) truly-noble-knowledge-(and)-vision-distinction |
alam-ariya-ñāṇa-dassana-viseso |
attainment, on-account-of-which,-I, |
adhigato, yen-āhaṃ |
(in my) final moments [of life], |
pacchime kāle |
(when my)-companions-in-the-holy-life |
sa-brahmacārī-hi |
question-(me), |
puṭṭho |
{I will not become} -confused,-ashamed,-despondent.' |
na maṅku bhavissāmī’ti |
Three things are coming, like a wall of flame: |
Āgacchantaggikhandhāva, |
death, disease, and old age. |
maccu byādhi jarā tayo; |
No power can stand before them, |
Paccuggantuṃ balaṃ natthi, |
and no speed’s enough to flee. |
javo natthi palāyituṃ. |
Don’t waste your day, |
Amoghaṃ divasaṃ kayirā, |
a little or a lot. |
appena bahukena vā; |
Those who have come to be, |
|
those who will be: |
♦ “ye keci bhūtā bhavissanti ye vāpi, |
All |
|
will go, |
♦ sabbe gamissanti pahāya dehaṃ. |
leaving the body behind. |
|
The skillful person, |
♦ taṃ sabbajāniṃ kusalo viditvā, |
realizing the loss of all, |
|
should live the holy life |
♦ ātāpiyo brahmacariyaṃ careyyā”ti. dutiyaṃ. |
ardently. |
|
Today, (in one’s)-duties-(one should)-ardently-strive. |
Ajjeva kiccam-ātappaṃ, |
who knows? death tomorrow? |
ko jaññā maraṇaṃ suve; |
** indeed no bargain can-be-made |
Na hi no saṅgaraṃ tena, |
(with the) great-army (of) death. |
Mahā-senena maccunā. |
“This life, so very short, is led onward. |
“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, |
There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. |
Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; |
Seeing this peril in death, |
Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, |
you should do good deeds that bring happiness.” |
Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī”ti. |
“This life, so very short, is led onward. |
“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, |
There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. |
Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; |
Seeing this peril in death, |
Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, |
one looking for peace would drop the world’s bait.” |
Lokāmisaṃ pajahe santipekkho”ti. |
“Suppose there were vast mountains |
“Yathāpi selā vipulā, |
of solid rock touching the sky |
nabhaṃ āhacca pabbatā; |
drawing in from all sides |
Samantānupariyāyeyyuṃ, |
and crushing the four quarters. |
nippothento catuddisā. |
So too old age and death |
Evaṃ jarā ca maccu ca, |
advance upon all living creatures— |
adhivattanti pāṇine; |
aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, |
Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse, |
workers, outcastes, and scavengers. |
sudde caṇḍālapukkuse; |
They spare nothing. |
Na kiñci parivajjeti, |
They crush all beneath them. |
sabbamevābhimaddati. |
For a long time you’ve undergone the death of a mother … |
Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, mātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ; |
| tesaṃ vo mātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhontānaṃ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṃ rodantānaṃ assu passannaṃ paggharitaṃ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṃ. | |
father … |
Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, pitumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … pe … |
brother … |
bhātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … |
sister … |
bhaginimaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … |
son … |
puttamaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … |
daughter … |
dhītumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … |
loss of relatives … |
ñātibyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … |
loss of wealth … |
bhogabyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ. |
or loss through illness. From being united with the unloved and separated from the loved, the flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is indeed more than the water in the four oceans. |
Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, rogabyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ, tesaṃ vo rogabyasanaṃ paccanubhontānaṃ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṃ rodantānaṃ assu passannaṃ paggharitaṃ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṃ. |
Why is that? |
Taṃ kissa hetu? |
Transmigration has no known beginning. … |
Anamataggoyaṃ, bhikkhave, saṃsāro … pe … |
This is quite enough for you to become disenchanted, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.” |
yāvañcidaṃ, bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṃ, alaṃ virajjituṃ, alaṃ vimuccitun”ti. |
“If he could catch an arrow shot by just one well-trained expert archer before it reaches the ground and bring it back, |
“Ekassa cepi, bhante, daḷhadhammassa dhanuggahassa susikkhitassa katahatthassa katūpāsanassa kaṇḍaṃ khittaṃ appatiṭṭhitaṃ pathaviyaṃ gahetvā āhareyya: |
he’d be qualified to be called ‘a speedster, with ultimate speed’. How much more so arrows shot by four archers!” |
‘javano puriso paramena javena samannāgato’ti alaṃvacanāya, ko pana vādo catunnaṃ daḷhadhammānaṃ dhanuggahānaṃ susikkhitānaṃ katahatthānaṃ katūpāsanānan”ti? |
“As fast as that man is, the sun and moon are faster. |
“Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo, yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo, tato sīghataro. |
As fast as that man is, as fast as the sun and moon are, and as fast as the deities that run before the sun and moon are, the waning of the life forces is faster. |
Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo yathā ca yā devatā candimasūriyānaṃ purato dhāvanti tāsaṃ devatānaṃ javo, () tato sīghataraṃ āyusaṅkhārā khīyanti. |
So you should train like this: |
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ: |
‘We will stay diligent.’ |
‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti. |
That’s how you should train.” |
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. |
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