Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 133[425] After making the sign and making the object, he practises, consideringthe putrescent sign from its intrinsic nature in ten ways: From colour, sex,region, locality, limitation, joints, cavities, low parts, high parts and all sides.He considers all sides of it. "From colour" means: "He determines blackas black, the neither black nor white as neither black nor white. He determineswhite as white and malodorous skin as malodorous". "From sex" means:"He determines whether it is the body of a male or a female, and whetherit is that of a young, an adult or an old person". To determine is to determinethe long as long, the short as short, the fat as fat, the small as small. "Fromregion" means: "He determines that in this direction is the head; in this,a hand; in this, a leg; in this, the back; in this, the abdomen; in this, thesitting place; in this, the putrescent sign". Thus he understands. "Fromlocality" means: "He determines that on this place 1 is the hand; on this,a leg; on this, the head; on this, the sitting-place; on this, the putrescentsign". "From limitation" means: "He determines (the limit of the body)from head to foot, from below up to the head and the edge of the scalp, understandingthe whole body as an assemblage of dung". "From the joints"means: "He determines that there are six joints in the two hands, six jointsin the two legs, and that there is one joint of the neck and one at the waist".These are known as the fourteen great joints. "From the cavities" means:"He determines whether the mouth is open or closed, and whether the eyesare open or closed. He determines the hollows of the hands and the feet"."From low parts and from high parts" means: "He determines whether theputrescent sign is in a low place or in a high place; and again, he determinesthus: 'I am in a low place, the putrescent sign is in a high place', or, Theputrescent sign is in a low place, I am in a high place' ". "He considers fromall sides" means: "He determines a distance of two or three fathoms fromthe sign, because he does not grasp the sign by being too near it or too farfrom it, and considering all things, he grasps the sign (saying), "Sddhu! sddhu /".Thus observing he is contented.That yogin having grasped the sign, noted it well and determined it well,goes alone, without a companion, established in mindfulness, undeluded,with his faculties drawn in and his mind not going to things outside, reflectingon the path of going and coming. To and fro he walks on the path or hesits absorbed in the putrescent sign.Why does he go without a companion? It is for the sake of acquiringcalmness of body. "Established in mindfulness" means: "Owing to nondelusionthe faculties are drawn in and the mind does not go to things outside".Why does he reflect on the path of going and coming ? It is for the sakeof acquiring calmness of body. Why does he avoid contrary winds? It isfor the sake of avoiding malodour. Why does he sit neither far nor near thesign? If he sits far, he cannot grasp the sign. If he sits near, he cannot1. Lit. Bright place — a double translation of avakasa.