Kāyagatāsatisutta

Majjhima Nikāya 119

Mindfulness of the Body · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ;
atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya:
‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti.
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
api nu so puriso amuṁ sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā”ti?
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati abhāvitā abahulīkatā, labhati tassa māro otāraṁ, labhati tassa māro ārammaṇaṁ.

Suppose there was a dried up, withered log. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, mendicants? By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log, could they light a fire and produce heat?” “Yes, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udakamaṇiko ritto tuccho ādhāre ṭhapito;
atha puriso āgaccheyya udakabhāraṁ ādāya.
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
api nu so puriso labhetha udakassa nikkhepanan”ti?
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati abhāvitā abahulīkatā, labhati tassa māro otāraṁ, labhati tassa māro ārammaṇaṁ.

Suppose a water jar was placed on a stand, empty and hollow. Then a person comes along with a load of water. What do you think, mendicants? Could that person pour water into the jar?” “Yes, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has not developed or cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, na tassa labhati māro otāraṁ, na tassa labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso lahukaṁ suttaguḷaṁ sabbasāramaye aggaḷaphalake pakkhipeyya.
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
api nu so puriso taṁ lahukaṁ suttaguḷaṁ sabbasāramaye aggaḷaphalake labhetha otāran”ti?
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, na tassa labhati māro otāraṁ, na tassa labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

When a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get an opportunity. Suppose a person were to throw a light ball of string at a door-panel made entirely of hardwood. What do you think, mendicants? Would that light ball of string find an entry into that door-panel made entirely of hardwood?” “No, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get an opportunity.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ;
atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya:
‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti.
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
api nu so puriso amuṁ allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā”ti?
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, na tassa labhati māro otāraṁ, na tassa labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

Suppose there was a green, sappy log. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, mendicants? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?” “No, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get an opportunity.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udakamaṇiko pūro udakassa samatittiko kākapeyyo ādhāre ṭhapito;
atha puriso āgaccheyya udakabhāraṁ ādāya.
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
api nu so puriso labhetha udakassa nikkhepanan”ti?
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, na tassa labhati māro otāraṁ, na tassa labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

Suppose a water jar was placed on a stand, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then a person comes along with a load of water. What do you think, mendicants? Could that person pour water into the jar?” “No, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, Māra cannot find a vulnerability and doesn’t get an opportunity.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, so yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udakamaṇiko pūro udakassa samatittiko kākapeyyo ādhāre ṭhapito.
Tamenaṁ balavā puriso yato yato āviñcheyya, āgaccheyya udakan”ti?
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā so, yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane.

When a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, they extend the mind to realize by insight each and every thing that can be realized by insight; and they are capable of realizing those things, since each and every one is within range. Suppose a water jar was placed on a stand, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. If a strong man was to pour it on any side, would water pour out?” “Yes, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, they extend the mind to realize by insight each and every thing that can be realized by insight; and they are capable of realizing those things, since each and every one is within range.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, same bhūmibhāge caturassā pokkharaṇī assa āḷibandhā pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.
Tamenaṁ balavā puriso yato yato āḷiṁ muñceyya āgaccheyya udakan”ti?
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, so yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane.

Suppose there was a square, walled lotus pond on level ground, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. If a strong man was to open the wall on any side, would water pour out?” “Yes, sir.” “In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, they extend the mind to realize by insight each and every thing that can be realized by insight; and they are capable of realizing those things, since each and every one is within range.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe ājaññaratho yutto assa ṭhito odhastapatodo;
tamenaṁ dakkho yoggācariyo assadammasārathi abhiruhitvā vāmena hatthena rasmiyo gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena patodaṁ gahetvā yenicchakaṁ yadicchakaṁ sāreyyāpi paccāsāreyyāpi;
evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci kāyagatāsati bhāvitā bahulīkatā, so yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane.

Suppose a chariot stood harnessed to thoroughbreds at a level crossroads, with a goad ready. A deft horse trainer, a master charioteer, might mount the chariot, taking the reins in his right hand and goad in the left. He’d drive out and back wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes. In the same way, when a mendicant has developed and cultivated mindfulness of the body, they extend the mind to realize by insight each and every thing that can be realized by insight; and they are capable of realizing those things, since each and every one is within range.

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