1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nādika in the brick hall. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!"

"Venerable sir!" those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Bhikkhus, mindfulness of death, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, culminating in the deathless, having the deathless as its consummation. [n.1283] It is interesting to note that mindfulness of death culminates in the deathless. But do you, bhikkhus, develop mindfulness of death?"

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2(1) When this was said, one bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "Bhante, I develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think thus: ‘May I live just a night and a day so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. [n.1284] Mp explains the opening exclamation, aho vata, as an indeclinable expressive of longing (patthanatthe nipāto). Brahmāli rejects Mp's interpretation and regards the sentence as an emphatic statement of fact, which he renders: "Indeed, I may live just a night and a day; I should attend to the Blessed One's teaching." The Chinese parallel, EĀ 40.8 (T I 741c26 –742b2), is in substantial agreement with Mp. Thus the first monk to speak (at T I 742a2–3) says: "When I contemplate death, I wish to go on living for seven days (and) contemplate the seven factors of enlightenment. This would be very beneficial (to me) in regard to the Tathāgata's teaching (and) after death I will have no regrets" (). I could then accomplish much!’ [n.1285] Bahuṁ vata me kataṁ assa. Mp: "‘I could accomplish much in my task with respect to the teaching’" (sāsane mama kiccaṁ bahu kataṁ assa). Mp-ṭ: "I would accomplish much in my task as a monk, which would be beneficial to me." It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

3(2) Another bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think: ‘May I live just a day so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’ It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

4(3) Still another bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to eat a single alms meal [n.1286] Mp-ṭ: "A single alms meal: a single alms meal able to sustain him for a single day." The point of the Pāli locution tadantaraṁ … yadantaraṁ is not that he wants to live long enough to eat a single meal, but that, aware of the uncertainty of death's arrival, he wants to live for the length of time it takes to eat a single meal so that he can practice the Dhamma. In other words, if it takes twenty minutes to silently eat a meal, this is the length of time he hopes to live. so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’ It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

5(4) Still another bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls of food so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’ It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

6(5) Still another bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful of food so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’ It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

7(6) Still another bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness of death."

"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?"

"Here, Bhante, I think: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’ It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."

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8When this was said, the Blessed One said to those bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus,

(1) the bhikkhu who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just a night and a day so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’; and

9(2) the one who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just a day so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’; and

10(3) the one who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to eat a single alms meal so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’; and

11(4) the one who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls of food so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’:

12these are called bhikkhus who dwell heedlessly. They develop mindfulness of death sluggishly for the destruction of the taints.

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13"But (5) the bhikkhu who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful of food so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’; and

14(6) The one who develops mindfulness of death thus: ‘May I live just the length of time it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, so that I may attend to the Blessed One's teaching. I could then accomplish much!’:

15These are called bhikkhus who dwell heedfully. They develop mindfulness of death keenly for the destruction of the taints.

16"Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will dwell heedfully. We will develop mindfulness of death keenly for the destruction of the taints.’ Thus should you train yourselves."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā nātike viharati giñjakāvasathe. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.

"Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

"maraṇassati, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā. Bhāvetha no tumhe, bhikkhave, maraṇassatin"ti?

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2Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahaṁ kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ rattindivaṁ jīveyyaṁ, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (1)

3Aññataropi kho bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahampi kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ divasaṁ jīveyyaṁ, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (2)

4Aññataropi kho bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahampi kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ ekapiṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (3)

5Aññataropi kho bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahampi kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ cattāro pañca ālope saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (4)

6Aññataropi kho bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahampi kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ ekaṁ ālopaṁ saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (5)

7Aññataropi kho bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahampi kho, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti.

"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhāvesi maraṇassatin"ti?

"Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ assasitvā vā passasāmi passasitvā vā assasāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhāvemi maraṇassatin"ti. (6)

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8Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā te bhikkhū etadavoca:

"yo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ rattindivaṁ jīveyyaṁ, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (1)

9Yo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ divasaṁ jīveyyaṁ, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (2)

10Yo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ ekapiṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (3)

11Yo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ cattāro pañca ālope saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (4)

12Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, bhikkhū pamattā viharanti dandhaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāventi āsavānaṁ khayāya. (1–4.)

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13Yo ca khvāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ ekaṁ ālopaṁ saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (5)

14Yo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ tadantaraṁ jīveyyaṁ yadantaraṁ assasitvā vā passasāmi passasitvā vā assasāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṁ manasi kareyyaṁ, bahu vata me kataṁ assā’ti. (6)

15Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, bhikkhū appamattā viharanti tikkhaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāventi āsavānaṁ khayāya. (5–6.)

16Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘appamattā viharissāma, tikkhaṁ maraṇassatiṁ bhāvessāma āsavānaṁ khayāyā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban"ti.

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Navamaṁ.