46.58. Worm-Eaten (SN46.58)

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.”

Translated by: Frank Lee Woodward.

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