I. Great the Fruit and Great the Profit
Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
“Monks.”
“Yes, lord,” replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
“Monks, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, if cultivated and made much of, is of great fruit and great profit.
And how cultivated and made much of is the idea of the worm-eaten corpse of great fruit and great profit?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
Thus cultivated, monks, thus made much of, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse is of great fruit and great profit.”
II. Realization or No Return
Monks, from the cultivation and making much of the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, of two fruits one may be looked for even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, the state of non-return.
How should it be cultivated, monks, how should it be made much of that of two fruits one may be looked for even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, the state of non-return?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
If the idea of the worm-eaten corpse be thus cultivated, thus made much of, one may look for one of two fruits even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, at any rate the state of non-return.
III. Great Benefit
Monks, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, if cultivated and made much of, conduces to great benefit.
From the cultivation and making much of the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, of two fruits one may be looked for even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, the state of non-return.
How should the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, be cultivated, monks, how should it be made much of that of two fruits one may be looked for even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, the state of non-return?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
If the idea of the worm-eaten corpse be thus cultivated, thus made much of, one may look for one of two fruits even in this very life, to wit: realization, or, if there be any substrate left, at any rate the state of non-return.
IV. Great Peace from Bondage
“Monks, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, if cultivated and made much of, conduces to great peace from bondage.
And how cultivated and made much of does the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduce to great peace from bondage?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
Thus cultivated, monks, thus made much of, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduces to great peace from bondage.”
V. A Great Thrill
Monks, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, if cultivated and made much of, conduces to a great thrill.
And how cultivated and made much of does the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduce to a great thrill?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
Thus cultivated, monks, thus made much of, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduces to a great thrill.”
VI. Great Pleasantness of Living
Monks, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, if cultivated and made much of, conduces to great pleasantness of living.
And how cultivated and made much of does the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduce to great pleasantness of living?
Herein a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is energy, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is zest, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is concentration, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates the limb of wisdom that is equanimity, accompanied by the idea of the worm-eaten corpse, which is based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, which ends in self-surrender.
Thus cultivated, monks, thus made much of, the idea of the worm-eaten corpse conduces great pleasantness of living.”