The perception of death, monks, 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, monks, the mind of a monk who dwells frequently therein recoils from the desire for life, does not incline towards it, either indifference or repulsion stands. 

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

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

If, monks, while a monk dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of death, his mind inclines towards the desire for life, indifference stands; 

it should be understood by that monk, 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, monks, while a monk 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 monk, 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, monks, 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. 

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