AN7.49 — Dutiyasannasutta

Disciples, these seven perceptions, when developed and cultivated, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.

What are the seven?

The perception of unattractiveness, the perception of death, the perception of repulsiveness in food, the perception of dissatisfaction in every world, the perception of impermanence, the perception of suffering in impermanence, the perception of non-self in suffering.

These are the seven perceptions which, when developed and cultivated, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.

Perception of Unattractiveness

The perception of unattractiveness when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.

Thus it has been said. Why was this said?

With frequent contemplation of the perception of unattractiveness the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from sexual intercourse, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands.

Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.

Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of unattractiveness, the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from sexual intercourse, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands.

If on the other hand, a disciple dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of unattractiveness, and his mind inclines towards sexual intercourse, indifference stands; it should be understood by that disciple, My perception of unattractiveness is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my cultivation of power is unattained.

Thus he is clearly aware there.

But if while a disciple dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of unattractiveness, his mind recoils from sexual intercourse, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands; it should be understood by that disciple, My perception of unattractiveness is well developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my cultivation of power is attained. Thus he is clearly aware there.

The perception of unattractiveness when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said with reference to this.

The Perception of Death

The perception of death when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said. Why was this said?

With frequent contemplation of the perception of death the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from the desire for life, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands.

Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.

Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of death, the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from the desire for life, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands.

If on the other hand, a disciple dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of death, and his mind inclines towards the desire for life, indifference stands; it should be understood by that disciple, My perception of death is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my cultivation of power is unattained.

Thus he is clearly aware there.

But if while a disciple dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of death, his mind recoils from the desire for life, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands; it should be understood by that disciple, My perception of death is well developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my cultivation of power is attained.

Thus he is clearly aware there.

The perception of death when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination,

thus it was said with reference to this.

The Perception of Repulsiveness in Food

The perception of repulsiveness in food when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said. Why was this said?

With frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from the craving for taste... either indifference or repulsion stands.

Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.

Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind of a disciple who dwells frequently therein recoils from the craving for taste... either indifference or repulsion stands.

If while a disciple dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of repulsiveness in food, his mind dwells frequently therein...

Therefore if on the other hand, the mind leans towards craving for taste, and non-repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of repulsiveness in food is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is unattained.

Thus, he is aware there. However if a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind withdraws from craving for taste... either equanimity or repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of repulsiveness in food is well-developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is attained.

Thus, he is aware there. The perception of repulsiveness in food when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in this regard.

The Perception of Non-Delight in the Entire World

The perception of non-delight in the entire world when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has indeed been said.

Why has this been said? Disciples, when a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of non-delight in the entire world, the mind withdraws from the allurements of the world... just as, disciples... it withdraws, contracts, and recoils, it does not spread out.

Just so when a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of non-delight in the entire world, the mind withdraws from the allurements of the world, it withdraws, contracts, and recoils, it does not spread out, either equanimity or repulsion arises.

If on the other hand, a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of non-delight in the entire world, and the mind leans towards the allurements of the world, and non-repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of non-delight in the entire world is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is unattained. Thus, he is aware there.

However if a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of non-delight in the entire world, the mind withdraws from the allurements of the world... either equanimity or repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of non-delight in the entire world is well-developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is attained. Thus, he is aware there.

The perception of non-delight in the entire world when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in this regard.

The Perception of Impermanence

The perception of impermanence when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has indeed been said. Why has this been said?

Disciples, when a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of impermanence, the mind withdraws from gain, honor, and fame... either equanimity or repulsion arises.

Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire withdraws, contracts, and recoils, it does not spread out.

Just so when a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of impermanence, the mind withdraws from gain, honor, and fame... either equanimity or repulsion arises.

If on the other hand, a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of impermanence, and the mind leans towards gain, honor, and fame, non-repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of impermanence is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is unattained. Thus, he is aware there.

However if a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of impermanence, the mind withdraws from gain, honor, and fame, it withdraws, contracts, and recoils, it does not spread out, either equanimity or repulsion arises; it should be understood by the disciple, My perception of impermanence is well-developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is attained.

Thus, he is aware there. The perception of impermanence when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in this regard.

The Perception of Suffering in Impermanence

The perception of suffering in impermanence when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has indeed been said. Why has this been said?

Disciples, when a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of suffering in impermanence, in laziness, in slackness, in laxity, in negligence, in lack of striving, in lack of introspection, a sharp perception of fear arises, just as for a murderer with a drawn sword.

If on the other hand, a disciple frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of suffering in impermanence, in laziness, in slackness, in laxity, in negligence, in lack of striving, in lack of introspection, a sharp perception of fear does not arise.

It is like a murderer with a drawn sword. It should be understood by a disciple, My perception of impermanence is undeveloped, I see no difference between before and after, my power of development has not been attained. Thus, he is aware there.

However if a disciple frequently dwells with a mind imbued with the perception of impermanence and suffering, and if a sharp perception of fear arises due to laziness, idleness, slackness, negligence, and lack of reflection, it is like a murderer with a drawn sword. It should be understood by a disciple, My perception of impermanence and suffering is well developed, I see a difference between before and after, my power of development has been attained. Thus, he is aware there.

The Perception of Impermanence and Suffering

The perception of impermanence and suffering when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in relation to this.

The perception of not-self in suffering when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus indeed it has been said. Why has this been said?

Because when a disciple frequently dwells with a mind imbued with the perception of not-self in suffering, in this conscious body and externally in all signs, the mind becomes devoid of egoism, conceit, and arrogance, surpassed, peaceful, and utterly liberated.

If on the other hand, a disciple frequently dwells with a mind imbued with the perception of not-self in suffering, in this conscious body and externally in all signs, the mind does not become devoid of egoism, conceit, and arrogance, surpassed, peaceful, and utterly liberated. It should be understood by a disciple, My perception of not-self in suffering is undeveloped, I see no difference between before and after, my power of development has not been attained. Thus, he is aware there.

However, if when a disciple frequently dwells with a mind imbued with the perception of not-self in suffering, in this conscious body and externally in all signs, the mind becomes devoid of egoism, conceit, and arrogance, surpassed, peaceful, and utterly liberated. It should be understood by a disciple, My perception of not-self in suffering is well developed, I see a difference between before and after, my power of development has been attained. Thus, he is aware there.

The perception of not-self in suffering when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in relation to this.

These seven perceptions when developed and frequently practiced, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.

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