Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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We are, as a rule, very strongly attached to our body as well
as to others’ bodies by ràga (lust). The best way to suppress that
ràga and the best remedy to cure the ràga-disease is asubhakammaññhàna.
It was made a standard or compulsory kammaññhàna
during the time of THE Buddha, especially for young monks.
Even now it is included in the four kammaññhànas which serve
as guardians or protectors. They are called caturàrakkhakammaññhànas
before one proceeds on to insight meditation.
The ten kinds of corpses are enumerated as follows.
1 Uddhumàtaka – rotten and bloated corpse.
2 Vinãlaka – discoloured corpse which becomes brownish
black.
3 Vipubbaka – one with cracked skin and pus oozing out.
4 Vicchiddaka – one which has been cut into two or three
pieces.
5 Vikkhàyitaka – one which has been gnawn and mangled
by dogs, vultures, etc.
6 Vikkhittaka – one which has been bitten and scattered
into pieces by dogs, vultures, etc.
7 Hatavikkhittaka – one which has been mutilated and cut
by knife, axe, etc., and thrown away as fragments.
8 Lohitaka – a bloody corpse.
9 Puluvaka – worm-infested corpse.
10 Atthika – a skeleton.
Meditation on any kind of corpse will lead to the first jhàna.
As the object is very disgusting, it is impossible to fix the mind
on the object without vitakka. So vitakka cannot be removed in
order to attain the second jhàna.