Week Four... Exercises 9 & 10 of the Satipatthana Sutta
Exercise 9 | Body as Impermanent
The Nine Contemplations (the nine stages of decomposition of a corpse): 1) The corpse is bloated, blue, and festering. 2) The corpse is crawling with insects and worms. Crows, hawks, vultures, and wolves are tearing it apart to eat. 3) All that is left is a skeleton with some flesh and blood still clinging to it. 4) All that is left is a skeleton with some blood stains, but no more flesh. 5) All that is left is a skeleton with no more blood stains. 6) All that is left is a collection of scattered bones - here an arm, here a shin, here a skull and so forth. 7) All that is left is a collection of bleached bones. 8) All that is left is a collection of dried bones. 9) The bones have decomposed, and only a pile of dust is left.
Exercise 10 | Healing with Joy
Further, bhikkhus, a practitioner is aware of body as body, when, thanks to having put aside the Five Desires, a feeling of bliss arises sharing his concentration and saturates every part of his body.
Further, bhikkhus, a practitioner who is aware of body as body, feels the joy which arises during concentration saturate every part of his body. There is no part of his body this feeling of joy, born during concentration, does not reach.
Further, bhikkhus, a practitioner who is aware of body as body, experiences a feeling of happiness which arises with the disappearance of the feeling of joy and permeates his whole body. This feeling of happiness which arises with the disappearance of the feeling of joy reaches every part of his body.
Further, bhikkhus, a practitioner who is aware of body as body, envelops the whole of his body with a clear, calm mind, filled with understanding.
Time: 7:33am
What: 10 minutes asana / 15 minutes seated practice
Focus: First Foundation / Exercises 9 - 10 (Sati-)
Practice was like a math problem that I didn't have the tools to solve. Unsure of how exercises 9 & 10 should look as the structure of a seated practice. How does one visualize the decomposition of the body while noticing the breath? I could not remember the nine stages of decomposition as outlined by the Sutta. Wonder if that matters? Began with elements. Visualizing the body made up of elements. Visualizing those elements dissolving and breaking down. Rotting flesh, bugs, gases, smell, bones, dried up dust... Wonder how to practice both exercises 9 & 10 together? Can the two practices be blended into one sit? After some time with the elements and the stage of decomposition, settled into simple breath awareness. Cut the meditation 5 minutes short. Dry throat, dry sinuses, tight breath, and iron supplement stuck to the back of my throat. Did I give in to the feeling of aversion? Yup, sure did.
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