Kāyagatāsatisuttaṁ
The Discourse about Mindfulness related to the Body

Applying the Mind to the Elements

Puna ca paraṁ, bhikkhave bhikkhu imam-eva kāyaṁ,
Moreover, monks, a monk, in regard to this very body,

yathāṭhitaṁ yathāpaṇihitaṁ dhātuso paccavekkhati:
however placed, however disposed, reflects by way of the elements:

‘Atthi imasmiṁ kāye,
‘There are in this body,

paṭhavīdhātu ChS: pathavī-, showing the dental/cerebral alternation found in the texts. ChS always uses this form. āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ ti.
the earth element, the water element, the fire element, the wind element.’

Seyyathā pi, bhikkhave dakkho goghātako vā goghātakantevāsī vā,
Just as though, monks, a clever butcher, or a butcher’s apprentice,

gāviṁ vadhitvā cātummahāpathe ChS: cātumahāpathe, but we would expect cātu- to develop cātur- > cātum-. bilaso Thai: vilaso, showing the v/b alternation found in the texts. vibhajitvā PTS: paṭibhajitvā; Thai: paṭivibhajitvā; all 3 forms have the same meaning. nisinno assa;
after slaughtering a cow, were sitting down at a crossroads after dividing it into portions;

evam-eva kho bhikkhave bhikkhu imam-eva kāyaṁ,
even so, monks, a monk in regard to this very body,

yathāṭhitaṁ yathāpaṇihitaṁ dhātuso paccavekkhati:
however placed, however disposed, reflects by way of the elements:

‘Atthi imasmiṁ kāye,
‘There are in this body,

paṭhavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ ti.
the earth element, the water element, the fire element, the wind element.’

* * *

Tassa evaṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato
For the one who is living heedful, ardent, and resolute in this way

ye gehasitā sarasaṅkappā te pahīyanti,
whatever rushing thoughts there are dependent on the household life are given up,

tesaṁ pahānā ajjhattam-eva cittaṁ santiṭṭhati,
and with the giving up of these the mind becomes internally stable,

sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
settles down, becomes one-pointed, and concentrated.

Evam-pi bhikkhave bhikkhu kāyagataṁ satiṁ bhāveti.
Like this, monks, does a monk develop mindfulness related to the body.

last updated: November 2008