1 At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. How so? 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, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the perception of a skeleton, when developed and cultivated, is very fruitful and beneficial.”
1 Sāvatthinidānaṁ. “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.
3 “When the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return. How so? …”
3 “Aṭṭhikasaññāya, bhikkhave, bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā. Kathaṁ bhāvitāya ca kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññāya kathaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā? 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.
5 “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great benefit. How so? …”
5 “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati? 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.
7 “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great sanctuary from the yoke. How so? …”
7 “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati? 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.
9 “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great inspiration. How so? …”
9 “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati? 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.
11 “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to dwelling in great ease. How so? …”
11 “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati? 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.
Mark SN 46.57 as studied Keeps a dated record in My Study and a ✓ in the library
SN 46.56 SN 46.58 English — SuttaCentral English (Bhikkhu Sujato; Vinaya: Bhikkhu Brahmali) (2018). CC0 (public domain dedication). Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato and Bhikkhu Brahmali, dedicated to the public domain (CC0), SuttaCentral. Source
Pāli — Tipiṭaka (Pāli, Mahāsaṅgīti edition) (Pāli canon; Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka edition). CC0 (public domain dedication). Pāli text (Mahāsaṅgīti edition) via SuttaCentral, CC0. Source
Numbers in the margin count the paragraphs of each discourse; SuttaCentral’s own segment numbering is the same in every language, so the versions line up exactly.
