1. Kāyānupassanā:
The Observation of Body

1.6 Navasīvathika Pabbaṁ: Nine Charnel-Ground Contemplations

1.6.1 Paṭhamaṁ Sīvathikaṁ: First Charnel-Ground Comtemplations

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍitaṁ / ekāhamataṁ vā dvīhamataṁ vā tīhamataṁ vā / uddhumātakaṁ, vinīlakaṁ, vipubbakajātaṁ./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again, monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • one, two, or three days dead, • bloated, blue, and festering, • a monk compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating on the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

“Mindfulness, that there is a body • is simply established in him • to the extent necessary for higher knowledge and mindfulness. He dwells independent, and not clinging to anything in the world.

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.2 Dutiyaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Second Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sivathikāya chaḍḍītaṁ,/ kākehi vā khajjamānaṁ, kulalehi vā khajjamānaṁ,/ gijjhehi vā khajjamānaṁ, sunakhehi vā khajjamānaṁ,/ sigālehi vā khajjamānaṁ, vividhehi vā pāṇaka jātehi khajjamānaṁ,/ so imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatītoti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse thrown aside in a charnel ground, • being devoured by crows, hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals, • or various kinds of creatures, • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.3 Tatiyaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Third Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvatikāya chaḍḍitaṁ,/ aṭṭhisaṅkhalikaṁ, samaṁsalohitaṁ, nahārusambaddhaṁ./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • a skeleton with flesh and blood, • held together with blood vessels; • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.4 Catutthaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Fourth Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍītaṁ,/ aṭṭhi saṅkhalikaṁ, nimmaṁsa lohitamakkhitaṁ, nahāru sambaddhaṁ./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • a fleshless skeleton smeared with blood, • held together with blood vessels, • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.5 Pañcamaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Fifth Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍitaṁ,/ aṭṭhika saṅkhalikaṁ, apagata maṁsalohitaṁ nahāru sambaddhaṁ./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • a skeleton without flesh and blood, • held together with blood vessels; • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.6 Chaṭṭhaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Sixth Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍitaṁ / aṭṭhikāni apagatasambandhāni / disāvidisāsu vikkhittāni / aññena hatthaṭṭhikaṁ, aññena pādaṭṭhikaṁ,/ aññena jaṅghaṭṭhikaṁ, aññena ūraṭṭhikaṁ,/ aññena piṭṭhiṭṭhikaṁ, aññena kaṭaṭṭhikaṁ,/ aññena gīvaṭṭhikaṁ, aññena dantaṭṭhikaṁ,/ aññena sīsakaṭāhaṁ./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • disconnected bones scattered in all directions: • here a hand-bone, there a foot-bone, • here a shin-bone, there a thigh-bone, • here a hip-bone, there a back bone, • here a rib-bone, there a pelvis, • here a neck-bone, there the teeth and here the skull. He compares this body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.7 Sattamaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Seventh Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathīkāya chaḍḍitaṁ / aṭṭhikāni setāni saṅkhavaṇṇupanibhāni./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • bones bleached white, the colour of shells, • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body

1.6.8 Aṭṭhamaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Eighth Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍitaṁ,/ aṭṭhikāni puñjīkatāni terovassikāni./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • bones heaped up, several years old, • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating on his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

1.6.9 Navamaṁ Sīvathīkaṁ: Ninth Charnel-Ground Contemplation

Puna ca paraṁ bhikkhave, bhikkhu / seyyathāpi passeyya sarīraṁ sīvathikāya chaḍḍitaṁ,/ aṭṭhikāni pūtīni, cuṇṇaka jātāni./ So imameva kāyaṁ upasaṁharati./ Ayampi kho kāyo evaṁ dhammo, evaṁ bhāvī, etaṁ anatīto’ti./

“Again monks, as though a monk were to see a corpse • thrown aside in a charnel ground, • bones rotted away to dust like lime powder, • he compares this very body with it thus: • ‘This body is of the same nature, • it will be like that, • it is not exempt from that fate.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

(The section on contemplating the body in body is finished.)

The complete translation of the Maha Satipatthana Sutta can be found in in this book. The special feature of this book is that the many beautiful repetitions that help us understand each section have been carefully included so it is the perfect text for chanting. As well, the Pali and English has been marked with pauses so groups can easily chant in harmony.