Patikulamanasikara
Translations of Patikulamanasikara | |
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Rōmaji: Fujōkan) | |
Sinhala | පටික්කූලමනසිකාරය, පිළිකුල් භාවනාව (Patikulamanasikaraya, Pilikul Bhavanava) |
Vietnamese | Quán bất tịnh, Niệm 32 thể trược |
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Paṭik(k)ūlamanasikāra[1] is a Pāli term that is generally translated as "reflections on repulsiveness". It refers to a traditional Buddhist meditation whereby thirty-one parts of the body are contemplated in a variety of ways. In addition to developing sati (mindfulness) and samādhi (concentration), this form of meditation is considered conducive to overcoming desire and lust. Along with cemetery contemplations such as the contemplation of the nine stages of decay, this type of meditation is one of the two meditations on "the foul" or "unattractive" (Pāli: asubha).[2]
Translation
Paṭikkūla (Pāli) literally means "against" (paṭi) "the slope" or "embankment" (kūla) and has been translated adjectivally as "averse, objectionable, contrary, disagreeable" and, in its nounal form, as "loathsomeness, impurity".[3]
Manasikāra (Pāli), derived from manasi (
In contemporary translations, the compound term paṭikkūla-manasikāra is generally translated as "reflections on repulsiveness" or, adding contextual clarity at the expense of literal accuracy, "reflections on repulsiveness of the body".[5] Alternate translations include "attention directed to repulsiveness"[6] and "realisation of the impurity of the body".[7]
Benefits
This type of meditation is traditionally mentioned as an "antidote" to sensual passion.
In individual discourses, this type of contemplation is identified as a contributor to a variety of mundane and transcendental goals. For instance, in the Girimananda Sutta (
While the Pali Canon invariably includes this form of contemplation in its various lists of mindfulness meditation techniques,[13] the compendious fifth-century Visuddhimagga identifies this type of contemplation (along with anapanasati) as one of the few body-directed meditations particularly suited to the development of samādhi (Vism. VIII, 43).[14]
Practice
In Buddhist scriptures, this practice involves mentally identifying 31 parts of the body, contemplated upon in various ways.
Objects of contemplation
This meditation involves meditating on 31 different body parts:
- (taco),
- flesh (maṃsaṃ), tendons (nahāru), bones (aṭṭhi), bone marrow (aṭṭhimiñjaṃ), kidneys (vakkaṃ),
- heart (hadayaṃ), liver (yakanaṃ), pleura (kilomakaṃ), spleen (pihakaṃ), lungs (papphāsaṃ),
- (karīsaṃ),
- sweat (sedo), fat(medo),
- skin-oil (vasā), saliva (kheḷo), mucus (siṅghānikā), fluid in the joints (lasikā), urine (muttaṃ).[15]
In a few discourses, these 31 body parts are contextualized within the framework of the mahābhūta (the elements) so that the earth element is exemplified by the body parts from head hair to feces, and the water element is exemplified by bile through urine.[16]
A few other discourses preface contemplation of these 31 body parts in the following manner: "Herein ... a monk contemplates this body upward from the soles of the feet, downward from the top of the hair, enclosed in skin, as being full of many impurities."[17]
The 31 identified body parts in pātikūlamanasikāra contemplation are the same as the first 31 body parts identified in the "Dvattimsakara" ("32 Parts [of the Body]") verse (
Methods of contemplation
A canonical formulation of how to meditate on these is:
- "Just as if a sack with openings at both ends were full of various kinds of grain – wheat, rice, mung beans, kidney beans, sesame seeds, husked rice – and a man with good eyesight, pouring it out, were to reflect, 'This is wheat. This is rice. These are mung beans. These are kidney beans. These are sesame seeds. This is husked rice'; in the same way, the monk reflects on this very body from the soles of the feet on up, from the crown of the head on down, surrounded by skin and full of various kinds of unclean things [as identified in the above enumeration of bodily organs and fluids]...."[21]
In regards to this and other body-centered meditation objects, the
In this way [a monk] remains focused internally on the body in & of itself, or externally on the body in & of itself, or both internally & externally on the body in & of itself. Or he remains focused on the phenomenon of origination with regard to the body, on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to the body, or on the phenomenon of origination & passing away with regard to the body. Or his mindfulness that 'There is a body' is maintained to the extent of knowledge & remembrance. And he remains independent, unsustained by (not clinging to) anything in the world...."[22]
According to the post-canonical Pali atthakatha (commentary) on the Satipatthana Sutta, one can develop "seven kinds of skill in study" regarding these meditation objects through:
- repetition of the body parts verbally
- repetition of the body parts mentally
- discerning the body parts individually in terms of each one's color
- discerning the body parts individually in terms of each one's shape
- discerning if a body part is above or below the navel (or both)
- discerning the body part's spatial location
- spatially and functionally juxtaposing two body parts[23]
Traditional sources
The name for this type of meditation is found in the sectional titles used in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta (
This form of meditation is mentioned in the following
- Mahasatipatthana Sutta ("The Great Frames of Reference", Dīgha Nikāya 22)[27]
- Sampasadaniya Sutta ("Serene Faith", DN 28)[28]
- Majjhima Nikaya 10).[29]
- Mahahattipadopama Sutta ("The Great Elephant Footprint Simile", MN 28)[26][30]
- Maharahulovada Sutta ("The Greater Exhortation to Rahula", MN 62)[26][31]
- Kayagatasati Sutta ("Mindfulness Immersed in the Body", MN 119)[21]
- Dhatu-vibhanga Sutta ("An Analysis of the Properties", MN 140)[26][32]
- In the Saṃyutta Nikāya's collection regarding the four bases of power (iddhipada), in a sutta called Vibhanga ("Analysis", Saṃyutta Nikāya 51.20)[12]
- Udayi Sutta ("To Udayi", Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.29)[33]
- Girimananda Sutta ("To Girimananda", AN 10.60)[34]
Elsewhere in Pali literature, this type of meditation is discussed extensively in the post-canonical Visuddhimagga (Vism. VIII, 44-145).[35]
In several of these sources, this meditation is identified as one of a variety of meditations on the body along with, for instance, the mindfulness of breathing (see
See also
- Ānāpānasati Sutta
- Kāyagatāsati Sutta
- Satipatthana Sutta
- Upajjhatthana Sutta
- Jarāmaraṇa
- Anussati
- Metta
- Buddhist meditation
Notes
- Tipitakaand Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), p. 393, spell this term paṭikkūlamanasikāra (with two k's) while the Burmese CSCD tipitaka and VRI (1996), p. 10, spell it paṭikūlamanasikāra (with one k).
- AN10.60. Anālayo further contextualizes this by underscoring that Early Buddhist texts refer to the body in negative, neutral and positive ways (e.g., as a means for embodying virtue, as the vehicle for contemplative joy).
- ^ See, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), p. 393, entry for "Paṭikkūla" (retrieved 2008-02-02 at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:1052.pali).
- ^ See, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), p. 521, entry "Mano & Mana(s)" (retrieved 2008-02-02 at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3860.pali), and pp. 197-8, entry for "Karoti" (retrieved 2008-02-03 at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.1:1:367.pali). Similarly, the core Buddhist notion of yoniso manasikāra has been translated as "careful attention".
- ^ See, e.g., Nyanasatta (1994); Soma (2003), pp. 3, 100; VRI (1996), pp. 10, 11.
- ^ Buddhaghosa (1999), pp. 235 (Vism. VIII, 42), 236 (Vism. VIII, 43). On p. 243 (Vism. VIII, 80), Nanmoli uses a variant translation: "giving attention to repulsivenes".
- ^ Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), p. 393, entry for "Paṭikkūla" (retrieved 2008-02-02 at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:1052.pali).
- AN6.39) (SLTP, n.d.) where contemplation of the 31 body parts is said to "remove sensual passion" (kāmarāgassa pahānāya). In addition, in Thanissaro (1994), "Translator's Introduction", Thanissaro states: "[Khuddakapatha] Passage 3 [which enumerates 32 body parts] gives preliminary guidance [to monastic novices] in the contemplation of the body, a meditation exercise designed to overcome lust."
- ^ Bodhi (2002), p.6.
- ^ Piyadassi (1997a).
- ^ Walshe (1995), pp. 419-20.
- ^ a b Bodhi (2000), pp. 1736-40; Thanissaro (1997b).
- ^ E.g., see DN 22, MN 10, MN 119.
- S.N. Goenka who suggests that, unlike true vipassana, this type of contemplation deals with "imagination or intellectualisation". Goenka thus reserves its use for "some cases, when the mind is very dull or agitated" and thus the mind is unable to follow the breath or more refined sensations. He concludes: "Of course, when the actual practice of Vipassana starts, there should be no aversion towards this ugly body. It is just observed as it is – yathābhūta. It is observed as body, with sensations arising and passing. The meditator is now on the path." (Goenka, n.d.).
- DN 22). Note that, in Thanissaro (1994), some words are translated differently, e.g., "muscle" instead of "flesh", and "lymph" instead of "pus". Also, Thanissaro (1994) translates vakkaṃ as "spleen" and pihakaṃ as "kidney"; thus, compared to Thanissaro (2000), effectively inverting these anatomical objects in the English translations. Note also correction to entrails and mesentery instead of small/large intestine, based on their descriptions in the Visuddhimagga. The Pali is from La Trobe University (n.d.)'s SLTP version of DN 22, BJT page 446, at http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/tipitika.php?title=&record=2612. These 31 body parts are grouped onto six lines consistent with their traditional representation in Pali as shown in MettaNet-Lanka (n.d.) Sinhala SLTP text at http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/5Khuddaka-Nikaya/01Khuddakapatha/01-Khuddakapatha-p1.html#Three and VRI (n.d.) Burmese CSCD text at http://www.tipitaka.org/romn/cscd/s0501m.mul2.xml.
- MN28, MN 62 and MN 140. See below for more information regarding these discourses.
- SN51.20 (Thanissaro, 1997b).
- ^ Piyadassi (1999b). This is consistent with on-line Sinhala SLTP texts. The on-line Burmese CSCD includes the brain after "feces" (karīsaṃ).
- Paṭis I.6. Hamilton also identifies a similar, abbreviated, differently ordered list that includes the brain in Sn 199 (see, e.g., Thanissaro, 1996); Hamilton attributes the differences between the traditional list of 31 or 32 body parts and the Sutta Nipatatext to the latter being in verse.
- ^ Buddhaghosa (1999), Vism. VIII, 44. Given Buddhaghosa's inclusion of the brain in aṭṭhimiñjaṃ could lead one to infer that this Pali term might refer to something other than bone marrow in some contexts (e.g., the nervous system).
- ^ a b Thanissaro (1997c).
- ^ Thanissaro (2000). (Parenthetical expression is in the original translation.)
- ^ Soma (2003), pp. 101-2. The commentary mentioned here is the Papañcasudani, attributed to Buddhaghosa and thus presumably written in the 5th century CE. This is similar to what is found in Vism. VIII, 48-60 (Buddhaghosa, 1999, pp. 237-9).
- ^ Buddhaghosa (1999), pp. 235, 236, 243 (Vism. VIII, 42, 43 83).
- ^ These suttas were found in part through a search of the SLTP canon using a search engine from La Trobe University at "La Trobe University: Pali Canon Online Database". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-27..
- ^ anatta) (e.g., see MN 28).
- ^ Thanissaro (2000).
- ^ Walshe (1995), pp. 417-25.
- ^ Nyanasatta (1994). This discourse is virtually the same as the Mahasatipatthana Sutta (Thanissaro, 2000) except that the latter's extended exposition on the Four Noble Truths is absent from the Satipatthana Sutta.
- ^ Thanissaro (2003).
- ^ Thanissaro (2006).
- ^ Thanissaro (1997a).
- ^ SLTP (n.d.).
- ^ Piyadassi (1999a).
- ^ Buddhaghosa (1999), pp. 236-59.
- ^ E.g., DN 22, MN 10, MN 119, Vism. VIII, 42.
References
- ISBN 978-1540410504.
- ISBN 0-86171-331-1.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (Fall 2002). Climbing to the Top of the Mountain: An Interview with Bhikkhu Bodhi, Insight Journal, Vol. 19. Barre, MA: Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Also available on-line at https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/climbing-to-the-top-of-the-mountain/.
- ISBN 1-928706-00-2.
- Goenka, S.N. (n.d.). Discourses on Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta: Condensed from the discourses during a course in Mahā-satipaṭṭhāna Sutta. Available on-line at http://www.vri.dhamma.org/publications/webversion/english/dstp.html. The section dealing specifically with patikulamanasikara is at http://www.vri.dhamma.org/publications/webversion/english/dstp.html#15.
- Hamilton, Sue (2001). Identity and Experience: The Constitution of the Human Being according to Early Buddhism. Oxford: Luzac Oriental. ISBN 1-898942-23-4.
- Nanamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998). Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati): Buddhist Texts from the Pali Canon and Extracts from the Pali Commentaries. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 955-24-0167-4.
- Nyanasatta Thera (1994). Satipatthana Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness (MN 10). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.nysa.html.
- AN 10.60). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.060.piya.html.
- Piyadassi Thera (trans.) (1999b). Khuddakapatha Suttas (Selections) (Khp 1-6,9). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.1-9x.piya.html.
- Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary (PED). London: Pali Text Society. A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
- Soma Thera (2003) (6th reprint). The Way of Mindfulness. Kandy: ISBN 978-955-24-0256-2. A 1998 edition is available on-line from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html.
- Sri Lanka Tripitaka Project (SLTP) (n.d.). Anuttariyavaggo (AN 6.21 - 6.30). Retrieved 2008-02-01 from "MettaNet-Lanka" at http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara4/6-chakkanipata/003-anuttariyavaggo-p.html. The Udāyi Sutta (AN 6.29) is identified in this section as "6. 1. 3. 9".
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1994). Khuddakapatha Suttas (Complete) (Khp 1-9). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.1-9.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1996). Vijaya Sutta: Victory (Sn 1.11). Retrieved 2008-03-23 from "Access to Insight" (1997) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.11.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997a). Dhatu-vibhanga Sutta: An Analysis of the Properties (MN 140). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.140.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997b). Iddhipada-vibhanga Sutta: Analysis of the Bases of Power (SN 51.20). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn51/sn51.020.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997c). Kayagata-sati Sutta: Mindfulness Immersed in the Body (MN 119). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.119.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference (DN 22). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.22.0.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2003). Maha-hatthipadopama Sutta: The Great Elephant Footprint Simile (MN 28). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.028.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2006). Maha-Rahulovada Sutta: The Greater Exhortation to Rahula (MN 62). Retrieved 2008-02-02 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.062.than.html.
- Vipassana Research Institute (VRI) (1996). Mahasatipatthana Sutta: The Great Discourse on the Establishing of Awareness. Seattle, WA: Vipassana Research Publications of America. ISBN 0-9649484-0-0.
- Walshe, Maurice (trans.) (1995). The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Pubs. ISBN 0-86171-103-3.
External links
- "The Section of Reflection on Repulsiveness", from: Soma Thera (trans.) (undated). The Commentary to the Discourse on the Arousing of Mindfulness with Marginal Notes. Available on-line at http://www.abhidhamma.org/SomaTheraTheCommentary.htm.
- MEDITATION ON THE THIRTY-TWO PARTS OF THE BODY by Dhamma Viro