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an.9.15 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

A Boil

“Monks, it’s just as if there were a boil that had been building for many years with nine openings, nine un-lanced heads. Whatever would ooze out from it would be an uncleanliness oozing out, a stench oozing out, a disgust oozing out. Whatever would be discharged from it would be an uncleanliness discharging, a stench discharging, a disgust discharging.

“‘A boil,’ monks, is another word for this body composed of the four properties, born of mother & father, fed on rice & porridge, subject to inconstancy, rubbing & massaging, breaking-up & disintegrating. It has nine openings, nine un-lanced heads. Whatever would ooze out from it would be an uncleanliness oozing out, a stench oozing out, a disgust oozing out. Whatever would be discharged from it would be an uncleanliness discharging, a stench discharging, a disgust discharging. For that reason, you should become disenchanted with this body.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera


The Simile of the Boil

“Mendicants, suppose there was a boil that was many years old.
And that boil had nine orifices that were continually open wounds.
Whatever oozed out of them
would be filthy, stinking, and disgusting.
Whatever leaked out them
would be filthy, stinking, and disgusting.
‘Boil’ is a term for this body made up of the four primary elements, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to impermanence, to wearing away and erosion, to breaking up and destruction.
And that boil has nine orifices that are continually open wounds.
Whatever oozes out of them
is filthy, stinking, and disgusting.
Whatever leaks out of them
is filthy, stinking, and disgusting.
So, mendicants, have no illusion about this body.”