maraṇa-s-sati 💀🧟
The original meaning of marana-sati (death remembering) can best be explained by the video
"life is short" (under video section of article).
Later Theravada and Buddhist schools seem to have expanded the
meaning of marana-sati to include a broader category of considering
all the philosophical implications of death and suggesting many kinds of meditations.
In EBT, that kind of contemplation falls more under the general rubric of anica and anatta.
The original meaning of maraṇa-s-sati 💀 is closely linked with a-p-pamāda 🐘🐾 and samvega (the emotion of spiritual urgency).
That one is to live life like death is going to arrive any moment,
and we should strive for nirvana with everything we got like our head is on fire.
A common misunderstanding seems to be that the 9 stages of corpse contemplation is maranasati.
It is not.
The 9 stages of Corpse contemplation (described in AN 6.29 and MN 10) is for the purpose of realizing impermanence,
not self, and lack of persisting identity in our body (Asmi-māna-samugghātāya).
+1 – list of sutta refs. For maraṇa-s-sati
all
all suttas with explicit reference to maraṇa-s-sati
AN 6.19 Paṭhama-maraṇa-s-sati: for duration of single breath or eating one mouthful of food,
one doesn’t forget death
AN 6.20 Dutiya-maraṇa-s-sati: any moment death can strike with deadly animal,
accident
+§1.1 – implicit references to maraṇa-s-sati
AN 3.51 two remorseful brahmans 120 years old see the buddha…
AN 5.57 five subjects, maraṇa-dhammomhi
AN 7.49 death perception
AN 10.48 ten subjects for frequent recollection
KN Thera-gāthā 6.13 death too fast can’t flee, so dont waste your day
KN Ud 5.2 Short-lived
MN 131 auspicious night verse
SN 2.19 seeing peril in death, drop world’s bait
SN 3.25 death crushing you from 4 directions
SN 20.3 death of relatives and rebirth
SN 20.6 life passing faster than shot arrow,
so be assiduous
+2 – all suttas with explicit reference to maraṇa-s-sati
all
AN 1, 16. ekadhammapāḷi, 1. paṭhamavaggo (AN 1.296-297),
para.
2 ⇒
297. “ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati. katamo ekadhammo? dhammānussati . pe . saṅghānussati. sīlānussati. cāgānussati. devatānussati. ānāpānassati. maraṇassati. kāyagatāsati. upasamānussati. ayaṃ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattatī”ti.
AN 1, 18. aparāccharāsaṅghātavaggo (AN 1.382-493-562),
para.
15 ⇒
473-482. buddhānussatiṃ bhāveti.
dhammānussatiṃ bhāveti.
saṅghānussatiṃ bhāveti.
sīlānussatiṃ bhāveti.
cāgānussatiṃ bhāveti.
devatānussatiṃ bhāveti.
ānāpānassatiṃ bhāveti.
maraṇassatiṃ bhāveti.
kāyagatāsatiṃ bhāveti.
upasamānussatiṃ bhāveti.
+2.1 – AN 6.19 Paṭhama-maraṇa-s-sati: for duration of single breath or eating one mouthful of food, one doesn’t forget death
| Yo ca khvāyaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāveti: | But the monks who develop rememberfulness of death by wishing | |
| ‘aho vatāhaṃ tadantaraṃ jīveyyaṃ yadantaraṃ ekaṃ ālopaṃ saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṃ manasi kareyyaṃ, bahu vata me kataṃ assā’ti. (5) | to live as long as it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful … | |
| Yo cāyaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāveti: ‘aho vatāhaṃ tadantaraṃ jīveyyaṃ yadantaraṃ assasitvā vā passasāmi passasitvā vā assasāmi, bhagavato sāsanaṃ manasi kareyyaṃ, bahu vata me kataṃ assā’ti. (6) |
or to live as long as it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out … | |
| Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, bhikkhū appamattā viharanti tikkhaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāventi āsavānaṃ khayāya. (5–6.) | These are called monks who live diligently. They keenly develop rememberfulness of death for the ending of defilements. | |
| Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ: | So you should train like this: | |
| ‘appamattā viharissāma, tikkhaṃ maraṇassatiṃ bhāvessāma āsavānaṃ khayāyā’ti. | ‘We will live diligently. We will keenly develop rememberfulness of death for the ending of defilements.’ | |
| Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. | That’s how you should train.” | |
+2.2 – AN 6.20 Dutiya-maraṇa-s-sati: any moment death can strike with deadly animal, accident
| ♦ “idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu | "here, monks, (a) monk: | |
| divase nikkhante | (as) day departs | |
| rattiyā patihitāya | (and) night returns, | |
| iti paṭisañcikkhati — | thus (he) reflects - | |
| ‘bahukā kho me | "many indeed (for) me, | |
| paccayā maraṇassa — | (are) [potential] causes (of my) death - | |
| ahi vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya, | (a) snake ** I might-be-bitten (by), | |
| vicchiko vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya, | {or a} scorpion ** I might-be-stung (by), | |
| sata-padī vā maṃ ḍaṃseyya; | {or a} hundred-footed [centipede] ** I might-be-bitten (by), | |
| tena me assa kāla-kiriyā, | because-of-that my **** time-of-death [would arrive], | |
| so mamassa antarāyo. | that (for) me, (would be an) obstacle. | |
| (death by illness) upakkhalitvā vā papateyyaṃ, |
{or} stumbling ** (I) might-fall, | |
| bhattaṃ vā me bhuttaṃ byāpajjeyya, | {or} food ** ** eaten might-trouble {me}, | |
| pittaṃ vā me kuppeyya, | {or} bile ** ** might-provoke {me}, | |
| semhaṃ vā me kuppeyya, | {or} phlegm ** ** might-provoke {me}, | |
| satthakā vā me vātā kuppeyyuṃ; | {or} stabbing ** ** [bodily] winds might-provoke {me}, | |
| tena me assa kāla-kiriyā, | because-of-that my **** time-of-death [would arrive], | |
| so mamassa antarāyo’ti. | that (for) me, (would be an) obstacle. | |
+2.3 – AN 8.73 same as AN 6.19 with 2 added items
+2.4 – AN 8.74 same as AN 6.20 with 2 added items
AN 8, 2. dutiyapaṇṇāsakaṃ, (8) 3. yamakavaggo,
10. kusītārambhavatthusuttaṃ (AN 8.80),
para.
19 ⇒
dve saddhā dve maraṇassatī, dve sampadā athāpare.
KN
KN Nidd I, 1. kāmasuttaniddeso, para.
34 ⇒
buddhānussatiṃ bhāventopi vikkhambhanato kāme parivajjeti,
dhammānussatiṃ bhāventopi . pe .
saṅghānussatiṃ bhāventopi.
sīlānussatiṃ bhāventopi.
cāgānussatiṃ bhāventopi.
devatānussatiṃ bhāventopi.
ānāpānassatiṃ bhāventopi.
maraṇassatiṃ bhāventopi.
kāyagatāsatiṃ bhāventopi.
upasamānussatiṃ bhāventopi vikkhambhanato kāme parivajjeti.
KN Nidd I, 1. kāmasuttaniddeso, para.
43 ⇒
aparehipi catūhi kāraṇehi sato — sattattā sato,
santattā sato, samitattā sato, santadhammasamannāgatattā sato.
buddhānussatiyā sato, dhammānussatiyā sato,
saṅghānussatiyā sato, sīlānussatiyā sato,
cāgānussatiyā sato, devatānussatiyā sato,
ānāpānassatiyā sato, maraṇassatiyā sato,
kāyagatāsatiyā sato, upasamānussatiyā sato.
yā sati anussati paṭissati sati saraṇatā dhāraṇatā apilāpanatā
asammussanatā sati satindriyaṃ satibalaṃ sammāsati satisambojjhaṅgo ekāyanamaggo,
ayaṃ vuccati sati.
imāya satiyā upeto hoti samupeto upagato samupagato upapanno samupapanno samannāgato,
so vuccati sato.
KN Nidd I, 14. tuvaṭṭakasuttaniddeso,
para.
26 ⇒
tāsaṃ vinayā sadā sato sikkheti.
sadāti sadā sabbadā sabbakālaṃ niccakālaṃ dhuvakālaṃ,
satataṃ samitaṃ abbokiṇṇaṃ poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ udakūmigajātaṃ avīcisantatisahitaṃ phusitaṃ,
purebhattaṃ pacchābhattaṃ, purimaṃ yāmaṃ majjhimaṃ yāmaṃ pacchimaṃ yāmaṃ,
kāḷe juṇhe, vasse hemante gimhe, purime vayokhandhe majjhime vayokhandhe pacchime vayokhandhe.
satoti catūhi kāraṇehi sato — kāye kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhānaṃ bhāvento sato,
vedanāsu . pe .
citte . pe .
dhammesu dhammānupassanāsatipaṭṭhānaṃ bhāvento sato.
aparehipi catūhi kāraṇehi sato — asati parivajjanāya sato,
satikaraṇīyānaṃ dhammānaṃ katattā sato,
satipaṭipakkhānaṃ dhammānaṃ hatattā sato,
satinimittānaṃ asammuṭṭhattā sato.
aparehipi catūhi kāraṇehi sato — satiyā samannāgatattā sato,
satiyā vasitattā sato, satiyā pāguññatāya sato,
satiyā apaccorohanatāya sato.
aparehipi catūhi kāraṇehi sato — sattattā sato,
santattā sato, samitattā sato, santadhammasamannāgatattā sato.
buddhānussatiyā sato, dhammānussatiyā sato,
saṅghānussatiyā sato, sīlānussatiyā sato,
cāgānussatiyā sato, devatānussatiyā sato,
ānāpānassatiyā sato, maraṇassatiyā sato,
kāyagatāsatiyā sato, upasamānussatiyā sato.
yā sati anussati paṭissati, sati saraṇatā dhāraṇatā apilāpanatā asammussanatā,
sati satindriyaṃ satibalaṃ sammāsati satisambojjhaṅgo ekāyanamaggo — ayaṃ vuccati sati.
imāya satiyā upeto samupeto, upagato samupagato,
upapanno samupapanno, samannāgato so vuccati sato.
KN Nidd I, 16. sāriputtasuttaniddeso,
para.
265 ⇒
kalyāṇapītīti buddhānussativasena uppajjati pīti pāmojjaṃ — kalyāṇapītīti.
dhammānussati saṅghānussati sīlānussati cāgānussati devatānussati
ānāpānassati maraṇassati kāyagatāsativasena upasamānussativasena
uppajjati pīti pāmojjaṃ — kalyāṇapītīti — paññaṃ purakkhatvā kalyāṇapīti.
KN Nidd II, pārāyanavaggo, pārāyanavagganiddeso,
1. ajitamāṇavapucchāniddeso, para.
100 ⇒
aparehipi catūhi kāraṇehi sato — satiyā samannāgatattā sato,
santattā sato, samitattā sato, santadhammasamannāgatattā sato.
buddhānussatiyā sato, dhammānussatiyā sato,
saṅghānussatiyā sato, sīlānussatiyā sato,
cāgānussatiyā sato, devatānussatiyā sato,
ānāpānassatiyā sato, maraṇassatiyā sato,
kāyagatāsatiyā sato, upasamānussatiyā sato.
yā sati anussati . pe .
sammāsati satisambojjhaṅgo ekāyanamaggo,
ayaṃ vuccati sati.
imāya satiyā upeto hoti samupeto upāgato samupāgato upapanno samupapanno samannāgato,
so vuccati sato.
bhikkhūti sattannaṃ dhammānaṃ bhinnattā bhikkhu — sakkāyadiṭṭhi bhinnā hoti,
vicikicchā bhinnā hoti, sīlabbataparāmāso bhinno hoti,
rāgo bhinno hoti, doso bhinno hoti,
moho bhinno hoti, māno bhinno hoti.
bhinnā honti pāpakā akusalā dhammā saṃkilesikā ponobhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇiyā.
KN Paṭis, 1. mahāvaggo, 1. ñāṇakathā,
32. ānantarikasamādhiñāṇaniddeso, para.
3 ⇒
abyāpādavasena . pe .
ālokasaññāvasena.
avikkhepavasena.
dhammavavatthānavasena.
ñāṇavasena.
pāmojjavasena.
paṭhamajjhānavasena.
dutiyajjhānavasena.
tatiyajjhānavasena.
catutthajjhānavasena.
ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattivasena.
viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattivasena.
ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattivasena.
nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattivasena.
pathavīkasiṇavasena.
āpokasiṇavasena .
tejokasiṇavasena.
vāyokasiṇavasena.
nīlakasiṇavasena.
pītakasiṇavasena.
lohitakasiṇavasena.
odātakasiṇavasena.
ākāsakasiṇavasena.
viññāṇakasiṇavasena.
buddhānussativasena.
dhammānussativasena.
saṅghānussativasena.
sīlānussativasena.
cāgānussativasena.
devatānussativasena.
ānāpānassativasena.
maraṇassativasena.
kāyagatāsativasena.
upasamānussativasena.
uddhumātakasaññāvasena.
vinīlakasaññāvasena.
vipubbakasaññāvasena.
vicchiddakasaññāvasena.
vikkhāyitakasaññāvasena.
vikkhittakasaññāvasena.
hatavikkhittakasaññāvasena .
lohitakasaññāvasena.
puḷavakasaññāvasena.
aṭṭhikasaññāvasena.
❧
+3 – implicit references to maraṇa-s-sati
all
+3.1 – AN 3.51 two remorseful brahmans 120 years old see the buddha…
| Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, | “This life, so very short, is led onward. | |
| Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; | There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. | |
| Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, | Seeing this peril in death, | |
| Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahāni. | you should do good deeds that bring happiness. |
+3.2 – AN 3.52 two remorseful brahmans, slightly different than AN 3.51
| Evaṃ āditto kho loko, | And as the world is on fire | |
| jarāya maraṇena ca; | with old age and death, | |
| Nīharetheva dānena, | you should rescue by giving, | |
| dinnaṃ hoti sunīhataṃ. | for what’s given is rescued. |
+3.3 – AN 5.57 five subjects, maraṇa-dhammomhi
| Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṃ paṭicca ‘maraṇa-dhammomhi, maraṇaṃ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbaṃ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā? | What is the advantage of often reflecting like this: ‘I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death’? | |
| Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṃ jīvite jīvitamado, yena madena mattā kāyena duccaritaṃ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṃ caranti, manasā duccaritaṃ caranti. | There are sentient beings who, drunk on the vanity of life, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. | |
| Tassa taṃ ṭhānaṃ abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhato yo jīvite jīvitamado so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti. | Reflecting often on this subject, they entirely give up the vanity of life, or at least reduce it. |
+3.4 – AN 7.49 death perception
| ‘Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṃsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti, iti kho panetaṃ vuttaṃ kiñcetaṃ paṭicca vuttaṃ? | ‘When the perception of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. It culminates in the deathless and ends with the deathless.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? | |
| Maraṇasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṃ viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṃ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati, na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti. | When a monk often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of death, their mind draws back from attachment to life. … |
+3.5 – AN 10.48 ten subjects for frequent recollection
| ‘kathaṃ-bhūtassa me rattin-divā | 'what-becomes (of) me (as) nights-(and)-days | |
| [thai: vītipatantīti] vītivattantī’ti | fly past? | |
| … | … | |
| ‘atthi nu kho me | 'Is (there) not indeed (in) me, | |
| uttari manussa-dhammo | (a) superior human-☸Dharma-[attainment], | |
| alam-ariya-ñāṇa-dassana-viseso | (a) truly-noble-knowledge-(and)-vision-distinction | |
| adhigato, yen-āhaṃ | attainment, on-account-of-which,-I, | |
| pacchime kāle | (in my) final moments [of life], | |
| sa-brahmacārī-hi | (when my)-companions-in-the-holy-life | |
| puṭṭho | question-(me), | |
| na maṅku bhavissāmī’ti | {I will not become} -confused,-ashamed,-despondent.' |
+3.6 – KN Thag 6.13 death too fast can’t flee, so dont waste your day
| Āgacchantaggikhandhāva, | Three things are coming, like a wall of flame: | |
| maccu byādhi jarā tayo; | death, disease, and old age. | |
| Paccuggantuṃ balaṃ natthi, | No power can stand before them, | |
| javo natthi palāyituṃ. | and no speed’s enough to flee. | |
| Amoghaṃ divasaṃ kayirā, | Don’t waste your day, | |
| appena bahukena vā; | a little or a lot. |
+3.7 – KN Ud 5.2 Short-lived
| Those who have come to be, | ||
| ♦ “ye keci bhūtā bhavissanti ye vāpi, | those who will be: | |
| All | ||
| ♦ sabbe gamissanti pahāya dehaṃ. | will go, | |
| leaving the body behind. | ||
| ♦ taṃ sabbajāniṃ kusalo viditvā, | The skillful person, | |
| realizing the loss of all, | ||
| ♦ ātāpiyo brahmacariyaṃ careyyā”ti. dutiyaṃ. | should live the holy life | |
| ardently. |
+3.8 – MN 131 auspicious night verse
| Ajjeva kiccam-ātappaṃ, | Today, (in one’s)-duties-(one should)-ardently-strive. | |
| ko jaññā maraṇaṃ suve; | who knows? death tomorrow? | |
| Na hi no saṅgaraṃ tena, | ** indeed no bargain can-be-made | |
| Mahā-senena maccunā. | (with the) great-army (of) death. |
+3.9 – SN 2.19 seeing peril in death, drop world’s bait
| “Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, | “This life, so very short, is led onward. | |
| Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; | There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. | |
| Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, | Seeing this peril in death, | |
| Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī”ti. | you should do good deeds that bring happiness.” | |
| “Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, | “This life, so very short, is led onward. | |
| Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; | There’s no shelter for someone who’s been led on by old age. | |
| Etaṃ bhayaṃ maraṇe pekkhamāno, | Seeing this peril in death, | |
| Lokāmisaṃ pajahe santipekkho”ti. | one looking for peace would drop the world’s bait.” | |
+3.10 – SN 3.25 death crushing you from 4 directions
| “Yathāpi selā vipulā, | “Suppose there were vast mountains | |
| nabhaṃ āhacca pabbatā; | of solid rock touching the sky | |
| Samantānupariyāyeyyuṃ, | drawing in from all sides | |
| nippothento catuddisā. | and crushing the four quarters. | |
| Evaṃ jarā ca maccu ca, | So too old age and death | |
| adhivattanti pāṇine; | advance upon all living creatures— | |
| Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse, | aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, | |
| sudde caṇḍālapukkuse; | workers, outcastes, and scavengers. | |
| Na kiñci parivajjeti, | They spare nothing. | |
| sabbamevābhimaddati. | They crush all beneath them. | |
+3.11 – SN 20.3 death of relatives and rebirth
| Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, mātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ; tesaṃ vo mātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhontānaṃ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṃ rodantānaṃ assu passannaṃ paggharitaṃ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṃ. |
For a long time you’ve undergone the death of a mother … | |
| Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, pitumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … pe … | father … | |
| bhātumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … | brother … | |
| bhaginimaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … | sister … | |
| puttamaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … | son … | |
| dhītumaraṇaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … | daughter … | |
| ñātibyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ … | loss of relatives … | |
| bhogabyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ. | loss of wealth … | |
| Dīgharattaṃ vo, bhikkhave, rogabyasanaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ, tesaṃ vo rogabyasanaṃ paccanubhontānaṃ amanāpasampayogā manāpavippayogā kandantānaṃ rodantānaṃ assu passannaṃ paggharitaṃ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṃ. | or loss through illness. From being united with the unloved and separated from the loved, the flow of tears you’ve shed while roaming and transmigrating is indeed more than the water in the four oceans. | |
| Taṃ kissa hetu? | Why is that? | |
| Anamataggoyaṃ, bhikkhave, saṃsāro … pe … | Transmigration has no known beginning. … | |
| yāvañcidaṃ, bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṃ, alaṃ virajjituṃ, alaṃ vimuccitun”ti. | This is quite enough for you to become disenchanted, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.” |
+3.12 – SN 20.6 life passing faster than shot arrow, so be assiduous
| “Ekassa cepi, bhante, daḷhadhammassa dhanuggahassa susikkhitassa katahatthassa katūpāsanassa kaṇḍaṃ khittaṃ appatiṭṭhitaṃ pathaviyaṃ gahetvā āhareyya: | “If he could catch an arrow shot by just one well-trained expert archer before it reaches the ground and bring it back, | |
| ‘javano puriso paramena javena samannāgato’ti alaṃvacanāya, ko pana vādo catunnaṃ daḷhadhammānaṃ dhanuggahānaṃ susikkhitānaṃ katahatthānaṃ katūpāsanānan”ti? | he’d be qualified to be called ‘a speedster, with ultimate speed’. How much more so arrows shot by four archers!” | |
| “Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo, yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo, tato sīghataro. | “As fast as that man is, the sun and moon are faster. | |
| Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo yathā ca yā devatā candimasūriyānaṃ purato dhāvanti tāsaṃ devatānaṃ javo, () tato sīghataraṃ āyusaṅkhārā khīyanti. | As fast as that man is, as fast as the sun and moon are, and as fast as the deities that run before the sun and moon are, the waning of the life forces is faster. | |
| Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ: | So you should train like this: | |
| ‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti. | ‘We will stay diligent.’ | |
| Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. | That’s how you should train.” | |
❧
+4 – Maraṇa-sañña: perception of death
all
Maraṇasaññ 22 texts and 34 matches in Suttanta Pali
AN 1.394-574 394-574 maraṇasaññaṁ 2 Pi
ja398 3. Sutanujātaka maraṇasaññino 1 Pi
AN 4.163 Asubhasutta: painful/pleasant + fast/slow,
4 permutations depending on asubha and 5ind🖐️ whether fast
AN 4.169 Sasaṅkhārasutta: 4 permutations of fast/slow attaining nirvana in this life
AN 5.61 Paṭhamasaññāsutta Perceptions (1st) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.62 Dutiyasaññāsutta Perceptions (2nd) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.69 Nibbidāsutta Disillusionment maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.70 Āsavakkhayasutta The Ending of Defilements maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.71 Paṭhamacetovimuttiphalasutta Freedom of Heart is the Fruit (1st) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.121 Gilānasutta Sick maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
AN 5.303 maraṇasaññā 1: only named as part list
AN 5.304 maraṇasaññā : only named as part list
AN 7.48 Paṭhamasaññāsutta: similes and explanations of each perception
AN 7.49 Dutiyasaññāsutta Perceptions in Detail maraṇasaññā maraṇasaññāparicitena 9 8 Pi En Ru
AN 7.617 maraṇasaññā : only as part of list in repetition series
AN 9.16 Saññāsutta: part of list, no details
AN 9.93 maraṇasaññā : part of list and repetition series
AN 10.56 Paṭhamasaññāsutta: just part of list
AN 10.57 Dutiyasaññāsutta: just part of list
AN 10.237 maraṇasaññā : just part of list, “For insight into greed,
ten things should be developed.
DN 34 Dasuttarasutta: part of list
AN 1.394-574 394-574 maraṇasaññaṁ 2 Pi
Quote
maraṇasaññaṁ bhāveti … the perception of death …
maraṇasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of death …
ja398 3. Sutanujātaka maraṇasaññino 1 Pi
Quote
janā maraṇasaññino.
AN 4.163 Asubhasutta Ugly maraṇasaññā 2 Pi En Ru
Quote
maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
and has well established the perception of their own death.
maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 4.169 Sasaṅkhārasutta Extra Effort maraṇasaññā 2 Pi En Ru
Quote
Maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
and has well established the perception of their own death.
Maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 5.61 Paṭhamasaññāsutta Perceptions (1st) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, ādīnavasaññā,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, drawbacks, repulsiveness of food,
and dissatisfaction with the whole world.
AN 5.62 Dutiyasaññāsutta Perceptions (2nd) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Aniccasaññā, anattasaññā, maraṇasaññā,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā— The perceptions of impermanence,
not-self, death, repulsiveness of food,
and dissatisfaction with the whole world.
AN 5.69 Nibbidāsutta Disillusionment maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī,
sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
A mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body,
perceives the repulsiveness of food,
perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world,
observes the impermanence of all conditions,
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 5.70 Āsavakkhayasutta The Ending of Defilements maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī,
sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
A mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body,
perceives the repulsiveness of food,
perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world,
observes the impermanence of all conditions,
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 5.71 Paṭhamacetovimuttiphalasutta Freedom of Heart is the Fruit (1st) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī,
sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
A mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body,
perceives the repulsiveness of food,
perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world,
observes the impermanence of all conditions,
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 5.121 Gilānasutta Sick maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī,
sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti.
It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body,
perceives the repulsiveness of food,
perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world,
observes the impermanence of all conditions,
and has well established the perception of their own death.
AN 5.303 maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, ādīnavasaññā,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, drawbacks, repulsiveness of food,
and dissatisfaction with the whole world.
AN 5.304 maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Aniccasaññā, anattasaññā, maraṇasaññā,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā— The perceptions of impermanence,
not-self, death, repulsiveness of food,
and dissatisfaction with the whole world.
AN 7.48 Paṭhamasaññāsutta Perceptions in Brief maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā.
The perceptions of ugliness, death, repulsiveness of food,
dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
and not-self in suffering.
AN 7.617 maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
and not-self in suffering.
AN 9.16 Saññāsutta Perceptions maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
not-self in suffering, giving up, and fading away.
AN 9.93 maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
not-self in suffering, giving up, and fading away.
AN 10.56 Paṭhamasaññāsutta Perceptions (1st) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā, nirodhasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
and not-self in suffering, giving up,
fading away, and cessation.
AN 10.57 Dutiyasaññāsutta Perceptions (2nd) maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Aniccasaññā, anattasaññā, maraṇasaññā,
āhāre paṭikūlasaññā, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā,
aṭṭhikasaññā, puḷavakasaññā, vinīlakasaññā,
vicchiddakasaññā, uddhumātakasaññā— The perceptions of impermanence,
not-self, death, repulsiveness of food,
dissatisfaction with the whole world,
a skeleton, a worm-infested corpse,
a livid corpse, a split open corpse,
and a bloated corpse.
AN 10.237 maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā, nirodhasaññā— The perceptions of ugliness,
death, repulsiveness of food, dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
and not-self in suffering, giving up,
fading away, and cessation.
DN 34 Dasuttarasutta Up to Ten maraṇasaññā 2 14 Pi En
Quote
asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratisaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā.
the perceptions of ugliness, death, repulsiveness in food,
dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
not-self in suffering, giving up, and fading away.
asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratisaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā,
pahānasaññā, virāgasaññā, nirodhasaññā.
the perceptions of ugliness, death, repulsiveness in food,
dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
not-self in suffering, giving up, fading away,
and cessation.
SN 46.68 Maraṇasutta Death maraṇasaññā 1 Pi En
Quote
“Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave …pe…” “Mendicants,
when the perception of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.
…”
AN 7.49 Dutiyasaññāsutta Perceptions in Detail maraṇasaññā maraṇasaññāparicitena 9 8 Pi En Ru
Quote
Asubhasaññā, maraṇasaññā, āhāre paṭikūlasaññā,
sabbaloke anabhiratasaññā, aniccasaññā,
anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā.
The perceptions of ugliness, death, repulsiveness of food,
dissatisfaction with the whole world,
impermanence, suffering in impermanence,
and not-self in suffering.
‘Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti,
iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?
‘When the perception of death is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.
It culminates in freedom from death and ends in freedom from death.’
That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
Maraṇasaññāparicitena, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno cetasā bahulaṁ viharato
jīvitanikantiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati,
na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti.
When a mendicant often meditates with a mind reinforced with the perception of death,
their mind draws back from desire to be reborn.
…
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno maraṇasaññāparicitena cetasā
bahulaṁ viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati,
na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti.
Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno maraṇasaññāparicitena cetasā bahulaṁ
viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṁ anusandahati appaṭikulyatā saṇṭhāti;
veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘abhāvitā me maraṇasaññā,
natthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, appattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti.
Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno maraṇasaññāparicitena cetasā
bahulaṁ viharato jīvitanikantiyā cittaṁ patilīyati patikuṭati pativattati,
na sampasāriyati upekkhā vā pāṭikulyatā vā saṇṭhāti;
veditabbametaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ‘subhāvitā me maraṇasaññā,
atthi me pubbenāparaṁ viseso, pattaṁ me bhāvanābalan’ti.
‘Maraṇasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā amatogadhā amatapariyosānā’ti,
+4.1 – downloadable video links
birth is destroyed
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a7Ti2gkbe8SMEbzNPbsKim2ITTq3y4Hw/view?usp=drive_link
not destroyed
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wQVulCwkwtV85o8a3q8odTb_T25EXojC/view?usp=drive_link
eat for need
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qkycIheLqZJGoHrwb8E1m2dPbupB5gRT/view?usp=drive_link
death by animals
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LXB66WjEkcBUy6rK1Dx7fvhDEkER78Wh/view?usp=drive_link
in sickness and health
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oBmcFxUlkJYGEdN7crVQ03iQRHPgDBEm/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12wNK2TKb_Ji6QfrXHkogdih-binWv0Wg/view?usp=drive_link
❧
+5 – Big Difference between maraṇa-s-sati and maraṇa-sañña
all
+5.1 – maraṇa-s-sati: death remembrance
You can die any moment from deadly creatures or fatal accidents
or even in the next bite of food, or the next breath
+5.2 – maraṇa-sañña: death perception
Quiz time.
LBT (later buddhist teachings) in Theravada seems to collect
the different practices for both of these terms under the same category,
under maraṇa-s-sati,
but in the EBT (early buddhist teachings),
maraṇa-s-sati (death remembrance, "recollection of death
" is typical translation),
the Buddha only uses that exact term in 2 suttas (2 other suttas are just expansions of AN 6.19 and AN 6.20),
and gives a very specific practice and purpose to maraṇa-s-sati.
In my article maraṇa-s-sati 💀,
I have links to all the suttas that specifically use the terms
maraṇa-s-sati and maraṇa-sañña,
You'll find the answer to the question,
What is the difference between maraṇa-s-sati and maraṇa-sañña?
Hint to save you time: most of the sutta references to maraṇa-sañña only list it as part of a list of other meditations,
AN 7.49 is the only one that describes the practice of maraṇa-sañña and its purpose in detail.
+6 – Buddhism failure, success
all
❌Failure
✅Success
+6.1 – Buddhism failure, success
❌Failure
✅Success
+7 – Big Difference between maraṇa-s-sati and maraṇa-sañña
all
+7.1 – maraṇa-s-sati: death remembrance
You can die any moment from deadly creatures or fatal accidents
or even in the next bite of food, or the next breath