Perceptions in DetailDutiyasaññāsutta

“Mendicants, these seven perceptions, when developed and cultivated, are very fruitful and beneficial. They have freedom from death as their objective and culmination.“Sattimā, bhikkhave, saññā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā. What seven?Katamā satta? The perceptions of ugliness, death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world, impermanence, suffering in impermanence, and not-self in suffering.Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā, anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā. These seven perceptions, when developed and cultivated, are very fruitful and beneficial. They have freedom from death as their objective and culmination.Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta saññā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānāti.

‘When the perception of ugliness is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’‘Asubhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti. That’s what I said, but why did I say it?iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of ugliness, their mind draws back from sexual intercourse. They shrink away, turn aside, and don’t get drawn into it. And either equanimity or revulsion become stabilized.Asubhasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato methunadhammasamāpattiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. It’s like a chicken’s feather or a scrap of sinew thrown in a fire. It shrivels up, shrinks, rolls up, and doesn’t stretch out.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭapattaṁ vā nhārudaddulaṁ vā aggimhi pakkhittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati. In the same way, when a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of ugliness, their mind draws back from sexual intercourse. …Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno asubhasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ viharato methunadhammasamāpattiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti.

If a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of ugliness, but their mind is drawn to sexual intercourse, and not repulsed,Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno asubhasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ viharato methunadhammasamāpattiyā cittaṁ anusandahati appaṭikulyatā saṇṭhāti; they should know: ‘My perception of ugliness is undeveloped. I don’t have any distinction higher than before. I haven’t attained a fruit of development.’veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘abhāvitā me asubhasaññā, natthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, appattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti. In this way they are aware of the situation.Itiha tattha sampajāno hoti. But if a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of ugliness, their mind draws back from sexual intercourse …Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno asubhasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ viharato methunadhammasamāpattiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti; they should know: ‘My perception of ugliness is well developed. I have realized a distinction higher than before. I have attained a fruit of development.’veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘subhāvitā me asubhasaññā, atthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, pattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti. In this way they are aware of the situation.Itiha tattha sampajāno hoti. ‘When the perception of ugliness is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’‘Asubhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of death, their mind draws back from desire to be reborn. …Maraṇasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of the repulsiveness of food is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of the repulsiveness of food, their mind draws back from craving for tastes. …Āhāre paṭikūlasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato rasataṇhāya cittaṁ patilīyati …pe… upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of dissatisfaction with the whole world is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of dissatisfaction with the whole world, their mind draws back from the world’s shiny things. …Sabbaloke anabhiratasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato lokacitresu cittaṁ patilīyati …pe… That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of impermanence is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Aniccasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of impermanence, their mind draws back from possessions, honor, and popularity. …Aniccasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato lābhasakkārasiloke cittaṁ patilīyati …pe… upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of suffering in impermanence is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Anicce dukkhasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of suffering in impermanence, they establish a keen perception of the danger of sloth, laziness, slackness, negligence, lack of commitment, and failure to review, like a killer with a drawn sword. …Anicce dukkhasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato ālasye kosajje vissaṭṭhiye pamāde ananuyoge apaccavekkhaṇāya tibbā bhayasaññā paccupaṭṭhitā hoti, seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ukkhittāsike vadhake. That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘When the perception of not-self in suffering is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?‘Dukkhe anattasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of not-self in suffering, their heart is rid of I-making, mine-making, and conceit for this conscious body and externally for all signs. It has gone beyond discrimination, and is peaceful and well freed.Dukkhe anattasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānāpagataṁ mānasaṁ hoti vidhāsamatikkantaṁ santaṁ suvimuttaṁ.

If a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of not-self in suffering, but their heart is not rid of I-making, mine-making, and conceit for this conscious body and externally for all signs; nor has it gone beyond discrimination, and is not peaceful or well freed,Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dukkhe anattasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ viharato imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu na ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānāpagataṁ mānasaṁ hoti vidhāsamatikkantaṁ santaṁ suvimuttaṁ. they should know: ‘My perception of not-self in suffering is undeveloped. I don’t have any distinction higher than before. I haven’t attained a fruit of development.’Veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘abhāvitā me dukkhe anattasaññā, natthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, appattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti. In this way they are aware of the situation.Itiha tattha sampajāno hoti.

But if a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of not-self in suffering, and their heart is rid of I-making, mine-making, and conceit for this conscious body and externally for all signs; and it has gone beyond discrimination, and is peaceful and well freed,Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dukkhe anattasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ viharato imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānāpagataṁ mānasaṁ hoti vidhāsamatikkantaṁ santaṁ suvimuttaṁ. they should know: ‘My perception of not-self in suffering is well developed. I have realized a distinction higher than before. I have attained a fruit of development.’Veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘subhāvitā me dukkhe anattasaññā, atthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, pattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti. In this way they are aware of the situation.Itiha tattha sampajāno hoti. ‘When the perception of not-self in suffering is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It has freedom from death as its objective and culmination.’‘Dukkhe anattasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

These seven perceptions, when developed and cultivated, are very fruitful and beneficial. Their objective and culmination is freedom from death.”Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta saññā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā”ti.