an.6.19 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Mindfulness of Death (1)

I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying at Nadika, in the Brick Hall. There he addressed the monks, “Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks replied.

The Blessed One said, “Mindfulness of death, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit & great benefit. It gains a footing in the Deathless, has the Deathless as its final end. Therefore you should develop mindfulness of death.”

When this was said, a certain monk addressed the Blessed One, “I already develop mindfulness of death.”

“And how do you develop mindfulness of death?”

“I think, ‘O, that I might live for a day & night, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ This is how I develop mindfulness of death.”

Then another monk addressed the Blessed One, “I, too, already develop mindfulness of death.”

“And how do you develop mindfulness of death?”

“I think, ‘O, that I might live for a day, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ This is how I develop mindfulness of death.”

Then another monk addressed the Blessed One, “I, too, develop mindfulness of death.” … “I think, ‘O, that I might live for the interval that it takes to eat a meal, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ …”

Then another monk addressed the Blessed One, “I, too, develop mindfulness of death.” … “I think, ‘O, that I might live for the interval that it takes to swallow having chewed up four morsels of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ …”

Then another monk addressed the Blessed One, “I, too, develop mindfulness of death.” … “I think, ‘O, that I might live for the interval that it takes to swallow having chewed up one morsel of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ …”

Then another monk addressed the Blessed One, “I, too, develop mindfulness of death.” … “I think, ‘O, that I might live for the interval that it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal.’ This is how I develop mindfulness of death.”

When this was said, the Blessed One addressed the monks. “Whoever develops mindfulness of death, thinking, ‘O, that I might live for a day & night… for a day… for the interval that it takes to eat a meal… for the interval that it takes to swallow having chewed up four morsels of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal’—they are said to dwell heedlessly. They develop mindfulness of death slowly for the sake of ending the effluents.

“But whoever develops mindfulness of death, thinking, ‘O, that I might live for the interval that it takes to swallow having chewed up one morsel of food… for the interval that it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, that I might attend to the Blessed One’s instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal’—they are said to dwell heedfully. They develop mindfulness of death acutely for the sake of ending the effluents.

“Therefore you should train yourselves: ‘We will dwell heedfully. We will develop mindfulness of death acutely for the sake of ending the effluents.’ That is how you should train yourselves.”

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One’s words.

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

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Mindfulness of Death (1st)

At one time the Buddha was staying at Nādika in the brick house.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,
“Mendicants!”
“Venerable sir,” they replied.
The Buddha said this:
“Mendicants, when mindfulness of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It culminates in the deathless and ends with the deathless.
But do you develop mindfulness of death?”
When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live for another day and night, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
Another mendicant said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I too develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live for another day, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
Another mendicant said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I too develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live as long as it takes to eat a meal of almsfood, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
Another mendicant said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I too develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live as long as it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
Another mendicant said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I too develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live as long as it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
Another mendicant said to the Buddha,
“Sir, I too develop mindfulness of death.”
“But mendicant, how do you develop it?”
“In this case, sir, I think:
‘Oh, if I’d only live as long as it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, I’d focus on the Buddha’s instructions and I could really achieve a lot.’
That’s how I develop mindfulness of death.”
When this was said, the Buddha said to those mendicants:
“As to the mendicants who develop mindfulness of death by wishing
to live for a day and night …

or to live for a day …

or to live as long as it takes to eat a meal of almsfood …

or to live as long as it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls—
these are called mendicants who live negligently. They slackly develop mindfulness of death for the ending of defilements.
But as to the mendicants who develop mindfulness of death by wishing
to live as long as it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful …

or to live as long as it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out—
these are called mendicants who live diligently. They keenly develop mindfulness of death for the ending of defilements.
So you should train like this:
‘We will live diligently. We will keenly develop mindfulness of death for the ending of defilements.’
That’s how you should train.”