This is what I have in my notes so far, but I really want to find some concrete evidence, besides AN 10.60, that it ONLY means 31 body parts. Or might it include corpse contemplation as well? Assuming MN 119 represents EBT, then kayagatasati includes 31asb, among several other practices.
So kayagata is a broader class of meditation subjects, but what is 'asubha bhavana' meditation? Is it only 31asb?
2. What is the official Theravada position, before Vimt. and Vism.? (they classify asubha as corpse contemplation, and 31 body parts under kayagata). B. Bodhi's footnote for SN 8.4 suggests official Theravada position is 31 body parts + 5 stages of corpse, but he doesn't cite source for that conclusion.
⚠️300+ years after EBT, in Vimt. and Vism., Theravada re-defines asubha meditation to refer to 10 stages of corpse decay, and they reclassify 31asbš§ under kÄya-gatÄ-sati š. It's important to know this, because in EBT suttas, an instruction to "develop asubha" is frequently mentioned, but without detail (examples: SN 8.4, SN 54.9). 31asb is immediately accessible, corpse contemplation considerably more complex.
• What's the purpose of asubha meditation? To counter perversions of our inverted perception AN 4.49, SN 8.4.
• But be careful, this is an advanced practice. Best to first have foundation in breath meditation SN 54.9.
• SN 12.61 and SN 12.62 is the more general case of seeing 4 elements via dependent origination 12ps as not being worth clinging to.
SN 8.4,
(Änanda replies)
commentary says:
subcommentary says:
So kayagata is a broader class of meditation subjects, but what is 'asubha bhavana' meditation? Is it only 31asb?
So the two big questions relevant:
1. What is the EBT position on exactly what meditation practices are included under 'asubha'? Is it only 31 body parts? Or does it also include corpse contemplation?2. What is the official Theravada position, before Vimt. and Vism.? (they classify asubha as corpse contemplation, and 31 body parts under kayagata). B. Bodhi's footnote for SN 8.4 suggests official Theravada position is 31 body parts + 5 stages of corpse, but he doesn't cite source for that conclusion.
The reason the question is important
In passages such as SN 8.4 and AN 9.1, when it says, develop asubha, what exact practice is that?a-subha š§ = un-attractive
✅in EBT meditation, it refers to 31asbš§ body parts contemplation. See AN 10.60, AN 6.29.⚠️300+ years after EBT, in Vimt. and Vism., Theravada re-defines asubha meditation to refer to 10 stages of corpse decay, and they reclassify 31asbš§ under kÄya-gatÄ-sati š. It's important to know this, because in EBT suttas, an instruction to "develop asubha" is frequently mentioned, but without detail (examples: SN 8.4, SN 54.9). 31asb is immediately accessible, corpse contemplation considerably more complex.
• What's the purpose of asubha meditation? To counter perversions of our inverted perception AN 4.49, SN 8.4.
• But be careful, this is an advanced practice. Best to first have foundation in breath meditation SN 54.9.
• SN 12.61 and SN 12.62 is the more general case of seeing 4 elements via dependent origination 12ps as not being worth clinging to.
SN 8.4,
(Änanda replies)
♦ “saƱƱÄya vipariyesÄ,
| (your) perceptions (are) inverted, |
cittaį¹ te pari-įøayhati.
| [so the] mind (of) yours completely-burns, |
♦ nimittaį¹ pari-vajjehi,
| (the) sign (to) completely-avoid: |
subhaį¹ rÄg-Å«pasaį¹hitaį¹.
| beauty connected-with-lust |
♦ “saį¹
khÄre parato passa,
| Co-doings; alien (they should be) seen (as), |
dukkhato mÄ ca attato.
| pain-&-suffering, not the self. |
♦ nibbÄpehi mahÄ-rÄgaį¹,
| Nirvanify [extinguish] (the) massive-lust, |
mÄ įøayhittho punap-punaį¹.
| don’t burn again-(and)-again. |
♦ “a-subhÄya cittaį¹ bhÄvehi,
| Non-beautiful [perceptions] (the) mind develops, |
ek’-aggaį¹ su-samÄhitaį¹.
| Singular-preoccupation, well-(developed)-undistractible-lucidity. |
♦ sati kÄya-gatÄ ty-atthu,
| remembrance (of) body-condition, |
nibbidÄ-bahulo bha.
| disenchantment-(in)-abundance ***. |
♦ “a-nimittaƱca bhÄvehi,
| Sign-less [meditation] (you) develop, |
mÄn-Änusaya-mujjaha.
| conceit’s-tendency,-discard. |
♦ tato mÄn-ÄbhisamayÄ,
| thereupon (with) conceit-penetrated, |
upasanto carissasÄ«”ti.
| (in) peace (you) abide. |
commentary says:
| Saį¹yutta NikÄya, sagÄthÄvagga-aį¹į¹hakathÄ, 8. vaį¹ gÄ«sasaį¹yuttaį¹, 4. Änandasuttavaį¹į¹anÄ |
♦ 212. catutthe rÄgoti ÄyasmÄ Änando mahÄpuƱƱo sambhÄvito, taį¹ rÄjarÄjamahÄmattÄdayo nimantetvÄ antonivesane nisÄ«dÄpenti. sabbÄlaį¹
kÄrapaį¹imaį¹įøitÄpi itthiyo theraį¹ upasaį¹
kamitvÄ vanditvÄ tÄlavaį¹į¹ena bÄ«jenti, upanisÄ«ditvÄ paƱhaį¹ pucchanti dhammaį¹ suį¹anti. tattha Äyasmato vaį¹
gÄ«sassa navapabbajitassa Ärammaį¹aį¹ pariggahetuį¹ asakkontassa itthirÅ«pÄrammaį¹e rÄgo cittaį¹ anuddhaį¹seti. so saddhÄpabbajitattÄ ujujÄtiko kulaputto “ayaį¹ me rÄgo vaįøįøhitvÄ diį¹į¹hadhammikasamparÄyikaį¹ atthaį¹ nÄseyyÄ”ti cintetvÄ anantaraį¹ nisinnova therassa attÄnaį¹ Ävikaronto kÄmarÄgenÄtiÄdimÄha.
♦ tattha nibbÄpananti rÄganibbÄnakÄraį¹aį¹. vipariyesÄti vipallÄsena. subhaį¹ rÄgÅ«pasaƱhitanti rÄgaį¹į¹hÄniyaį¹ iį¹į¹hÄrammaį¹aį¹. parato passÄti aniccato passa. mÄ ca attatoti attato mÄ passa. kÄyagatÄ tyatthÅ«ti kÄyagatÄ te atthu. animittaƱca bhÄvehÄ«ti niccÄdÄ«naį¹ nimittÄnaį¹ ugghÄį¹itattÄ vipassanÄ animittÄ nÄma, taį¹ bhÄvehÄ«ti vadati. mÄnÄbhisamayÄti mÄnassa dassanÄbhisamayÄ ceva pahÄnÄbhisamayÄ ca. upasantoti rÄgÄdisantatÄya upasanto. catutthaį¹.
subcommentary says:
| Saį¹yutta NikÄya, SagÄthÄvaggaį¹Ä«kÄ, 8. Vaį¹ gÄ«sasaį¹yuttaį¹, 4. Änandasuttavaį¹į¹anÄ |
♦ 212.RÄgoti ettha Äyasmato vaį¹
gÄ«sassa rÄgassa uppattiyÄ kÄraį¹aį¹ vibhÄvetuį¹ ‘‘ÄyasmÄ Änando’ ’tiÄdi vuttaį¹. Tanti Änandattheraį¹. Ärammaį¹aį¹ pariggahetunti kÄyavedanÄdibhedaį¹ Ärammaį¹aį¹ satigocaraį¹. AsubhadukkhÄdito, rÅ«pÄdiekekameva vÄ chaįø·Ärammaį¹aį¹ aniccadukkhÄdito pariggaį¹hituį¹ paricchijja jÄnituį¹. ItthirÅ«pÄrammaį¹eti itthisantÄne rÅ«pasabhÄve Ärammaį¹e.
♦ NibbÄpananti nibbÄpayati etenÄti nibbÄpanaį¹. VipallÄsenÄti asubhe ‘‘subhan’ti vipallÄsabhÄvahetu. RÄgaį¹į¹hÄniyanti rÄguppattihetu. Iį¹į¹hÄrammaį¹anti subhÄrammaį¹aį¹. Ettha ca iį¹į¹hÄrammaį¹asÄ«sena tattha iį¹į¹hÄkÄraggahaį¹aį¹ vadati. TaƱhi vajjanÄ«yaį¹. Paratoti avasavattanatthena aƱƱato. Saį¹
khÄrÄ hi ‘‘mÄ bhijjantÅ«’ti icchitÄpi bhijjanteva, tasmÄ te avasavattittÄ paro nÄma, sÄ ca nesaį¹ paratÄ aniccadassanena pÄkaį¹Ä hotÄ«ti vuttaį¹ ‘‘parato passÄti aniccato passÄ’ ’ti. KÄmaį¹ vipassanÄ saį¹
khÄranimittaį¹ na pariccajati saį¹
khÄre Ärabbha vattanato, yesaį¹ pana nimittÄnaį¹ aggahaį¹ena animittÄti gahituį¹ arahati, taį¹ dassetuį¹ ‘‘niccÄdÄ«naį¹ nimittÄnan’ ’tiÄdi vuttaį¹. Salakkhaį¹a-sÄmaƱƱalakkhaį¹a-dassanavasena mÄnassa dassanÄbhisamayo, vipassanÄya pahÄnÄbhisamayo. ‘‘MaggenÄ’ti vadanti, maggeneva pana asammohato pariƱƱÄpaį¹ivedhavasena dassanÄbhisamayo, pahÄnapaį¹ivedhavasena pahÄnÄbhisamayo. RÄgÄdisantatÄyÄti rÄgÄdÄ«naį¹ samucchedavasena paį¹ippassaddhivasena vÅ«pasametabbato santabhÄvena.
B. Bodhi footnotes to SN 8.4 says
* The meditation on foulness (asubha) is the contemplation of the parts of the body, as at SN 51.20 (V 278,6-14),
* or the cemetery meditations, as at SN 46:57-61
Is B. Bodhi getting that information from the commentary or subcommentary?
SN 51.20 has: (part of 4ip iddhipada formula, not called 'asubha', but code phrase 'as below, so above')
yathÄ adho tathÄ uddhaį¹,
“kathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
| "what (is) {dwelling}, *********, ******* |
yathÄ adho tathÄ uddhaį¹,
| as below, so above, |
yathÄ uddhaį¹ tathÄ adho
| as above, so below |
viharati?
| {********}? |
idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
| here, monks, (a) monk [practices the following:] |
STED (31asb) a-subha
STED (31asb) un-attractive [body parts]
imameva kÄyaį¹
| In-this-same body, |
uddhaį¹ pÄda-talÄ
| up (from the) feet-base, |
adho kesa-matthakÄ
| below head-hair-(on)-top, |
Taca-pariyantaį¹
| Skin-enclosed, |
pÅ«raį¹ nÄna-p-pakÄrassa A-sucino
| Full-of many-*-things Im-pure. |
paccavekkhati:
| (he) reflects: |
‘atthi imasmiį¹ kÄye
| There-are in-this body: |
kesÄ lomÄ nakhÄ dantÄ taco,
| Head-hairs, body-hairs, nails, teeth, skin, |
maį¹saį¹ nhÄru aį¹į¹hi aį¹į¹hi-miƱjaį¹ vakkaį¹,
| flesh, tendons, bones, bone-marrow, kidneys, |
hadayaį¹ yakanaį¹ kilomakaį¹ pihakaį¹ papphÄsaį¹,
| heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, |
antaį¹ antaguį¹aį¹ udariyaį¹ karÄ«saį¹,
| Large-intestines, small-intestines, stomach, feces, |
pittaį¹ semhaį¹ pubbo lohitaį¹ sedo medo,
| bile, phelgm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, |
assu vasÄ kheįø·o siį¹
ghÄį¹ikÄ lasikÄ muttan’ti.
| tears, skin-oil, saliva, mucous, fluid-in-the-joints, (and) urine. |
evaį¹ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
| such indeed, {he dwells} **********, ******* |
yathÄ adho tathÄ uddhaį¹,
| as below, so above, |
yathÄ uddhaį¹ tathÄ adho
| as above, so below, |
viharati.
| {********}. |
AN 9.1 commentary says:
(commenting on phrase 'asubha bhavetabba'). It seems to talk about eating and going somewhere to do practice, but I'm not sure if it ever explains what the asubhakammaį¹į¹hÄnena (meditation topics for asubha) are.
| Aį¹ guttara NikÄya, navakanipÄta-aį¹į¹hakathÄ, 1. paį¹hamapaį¹į¹Äsakaį¹, 1. sambodhivaggo n, 1. sambodhisuttavaį¹į¹anÄ |
♦ 1. navakanipÄtassa paį¹hame sambodhipakkhikÄnanti catumaggasaį¹
khÄtassa sambodhissa pakkhe bhavÄnaį¹, upakÄrakÄnanti attho. pÄįø·iyaį¹ Ägate nava dhamme sandhÄyevaį¹ pucchati. kÄ upanisÄti ko upanissayapaccayo. abhisallekhantÄ«ti abhisallekhikÄ. samathavipassanÄcittassa vivaraį¹e sappÄyÄ upakÄrakÄti cetovivaraį¹asappÄyÄ. appicchataį¹ Ärabbha pavattÄ kathÄ appicchakathÄ. sesesupi eseva nayo.
♦ asubhÄ bhÄvetabbÄ rÄgassa pahÄnÄyÄti ayamattho sÄlilÄyakopamÄya vibhÄvetabbo — eko hi puriso asitaį¹ gahetvÄ koį¹ito paį¹į¹hÄya sÄlikkhette sÄliyo lÄyati. athassa vatiį¹ bhinditvÄ gÄvo pavisiį¹su. so asitaį¹ į¹hapetvÄ yaį¹į¹hiį¹ ÄdÄya teneva maggena gÄvo nÄ«haritvÄ vatiį¹ pÄkatikaį¹ katvÄ punapi asitaį¹ ÄdÄya sÄliyo lÄyi. ettha sÄlikkhettaį¹ viya buddhasÄsanaį¹ daį¹į¹habbaį¹, sÄlilÄyako viya yogÄvacaro, asitaį¹ viya paƱƱÄ, lÄyanakÄlo viya vipassanÄya kammakaraį¹akÄlo, yaį¹į¹hi viya asubhakammaį¹į¹hÄnaį¹, vati viya saį¹varo, vatiį¹ bhinditvÄ gÄvÄ«naį¹ pavisanaį¹ viya sahasÄ appaį¹isaį¹
khÄya pamÄdaį¹ Ärabbha rÄgassa uppajjanaį¹, asitaį¹ į¹hapetvÄ yaį¹į¹hiį¹ ÄdÄya paviį¹į¹hamaggeneva gÄvo nÄ«haritvÄ vatiį¹ paį¹ipÄkatikaį¹ katvÄ puna koį¹ito paį¹į¹hÄya sÄlilÄyanaį¹ viya asubhakammaį¹į¹hÄnena rÄgaį¹ vikkhambhetvÄ puna vipassanÄya kammaį¹ ÄrabhanakÄlo. imamatthaį¹ sandhÄya vuttaį¹ — “asubhÄ bhÄvetabbÄ rÄgassa pahÄnÄyÄ”ti.
♦ tattha rÄgassÄti paƱcakÄmaguį¹ikarÄgassa. mettÄti mettÄkammaį¹į¹hÄnaį¹. byÄpÄdassa pahÄnÄyÄti vuttanayeneva uppannassa kopassa pajahanatthÄya. ÄnÄpÄnassatÄ«ti soįø·asavatthukÄ ÄnÄpÄnassati. vitakkupacchedÄyÄti vuttanayeneva uppannÄnaį¹ vitakkÄnaį¹ upacchedanatthÄya. asmimÄnasamugghÄtÄyÄti asmÄ«ti uppajjanakassa mÄnassa samugghÄtatthÄya. anattasaĆ±Ć±Ä saį¹į¹hÄtÄ«ti aniccalakkhaį¹e diį¹į¹he anattalakkhaį¹aį¹ diį¹į¹hameva hoti. etesu hi tÄ«su lakkhaį¹esu ekasmiį¹ diį¹į¹he itaradvayaį¹ diį¹į¹hameva hoti. tena vuttaį¹ — “aniccasaƱƱino, bhikkhave, anattasaĆ±Ć±Ä saį¹į¹hÄtÄ«”ti. diį¹į¹heva dhamme nibbÄnanti diį¹į¹heyeva dhamme apaccayaparinibbÄnaƱca pÄpuį¹ÄtÄ«ti imasmiį¹ sutte vaį¹į¹avivaį¹į¹aį¹ kathitaį¹.
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