I've heard one teacher say that in the EBT (early buddhist texts), asubha practice only refers to 31 body parts, and later Theravada expanded it to include 9 cemetary corpse decay, and perhaps other practices as well?
Does anyone know for sure? In the pali suttas, most of the references to asubha do not specify a specific meditation practice(s).
Is AN 10.60 the only place where asubha is specifically assigned to 31 body parts?
I'd prefer to believe asubha meditation encompasses more practices than just the 31asb, unless there is conclusive evidence. Simply because in an oral tradition where memory of teachings is mandatory, it's helpful when a label, 'asubha' in this case, covers all the practices that could qualify for doing that job.
We know that the purpose of asubha (ugly or non-beautful), is to counter the effects of subha (beautiful) have in inducing lust/passion/desire for sensual pleasure, especially for sex.
Clearly the stages of decomposition of corpses, the discharge from the 9 orifices of the body, all qualify in accomplishing that goal.
Does anyone know for sure? In the pali suttas, most of the references to asubha do not specify a specific meditation practice(s).
Is AN 10.60 the only place where asubha is specifically assigned to 31 body parts?
I'd prefer to believe asubha meditation encompasses more practices than just the 31asb, unless there is conclusive evidence. Simply because in an oral tradition where memory of teachings is mandatory, it's helpful when a label, 'asubha' in this case, covers all the practices that could qualify for doing that job.
We know that the purpose of asubha (ugly or non-beautful), is to counter the effects of subha (beautiful) have in inducing lust/passion/desire for sensual pleasure, especially for sex.
Clearly the stages of decomposition of corpses, the discharge from the 9 orifices of the body, all qualify in accomplishing that goal.
AN 10.60 defines the practice of asubha as 31 body parts contemplation
KatamÄ cÄnanda, asubhasaƱƱÄ?
| And what is the perception of ugliness? |
IdhÄnanda, bhikkhu imameva kÄyaį¹ uddhaį¹ pÄdatalÄ adho kesamatthakÄ tacapariyantaį¹ pÅ«raį¹ nÄnÄppakÄrassa asucino paccavekkhati:
| It’s when a monk examines their own body up from the soles of the feet and down from the tips of the hairs, wrapped in skin and full of many kinds of filth. |
‘atthi imasmiį¹ kÄye kesÄ lomÄ nakhÄ dantÄ taco, maį¹saį¹ nhÄru aį¹į¹hi aį¹į¹himiƱjaį¹ vakkaį¹, hadayaį¹ yakanaį¹ kilomakaį¹ pihakaį¹ papphÄsaį¹, antaį¹ antaguį¹aį¹ udariyaį¹ karÄ«saį¹, pittaį¹ semhaį¹ pubbo lohitaį¹ sedo medo, assu vasÄ kheįø·o siį¹
ghÄį¹ikÄ lasikÄ muttan’ti.
| ‘In this body there is head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.’ |
Iti imasmiį¹ kÄye asubhÄnupassÄ« viharati.
| And so they meditate observing ugliness in this body. |
Ayaį¹ vuccatÄnanda, asubhasaƱƱÄ. (3)
| This is called the perception of ugliness. |
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