Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 167of one's own child is associated with fear. The mindfulness of death by aburner (of corpses) is associated with indifference. Remembering (the nature of)the world, one develops aversion — this is called associated with wisdom.Here the yogin should not practise the mindfulness associated with anxiety,fear or indifference, because [432] through them he is not able to remove tribulation.Tribulation can only be removed through the mindfulness associatedwith wisdom.There are three kinds of death thus: death according to general opinion,death as a complete cutting off, momentary death. What is "death accordingto general opinion"? Death as it is understood in common parlance. Thisis called "death according to general opinion". "Death as a complete cuttingoff" means: "The Consummate One has cut off the defilements". "Momentarydeath" means: "The momentary perishing of all formations". 1And again, there are two kinds in death: untimely death and timely death.Death through suicide, murder or disease, or through being cut off in theprime of life without (assignable) cause is called untimely death. Deaththrough the exhaustion of the life-span or through old age is called timelydeath. 2 One should recall to mind these two kinds of death.And again, predecessor-teachers 3 have taught the practice of mindfulnessof death in these eight ways: 4 through the presence of a murderer; throughthe absence of an efficient cause;* through inference; through the body beingcommon to the many; through the weakness of the life-principle; throughthe distinguishing of time; through the absence of the sign; through the shortnessof the moment. How should one practise mindfulness of death "throughthe presence of a murderer"? A. Like a man who is being taken to a place tobe killed. When that man sees the murderer drawing out a sword and followinghim, he thinks thus: "This man intends to kill me; I shall be killed at anymoment; I shall be killed at any step. I shall surely be killed if I turn back.I shall surely be killed if I sit down; I shall surely be kilied if I sleep". Thusshould the yogin practise mindfulness of death "through the presence of amurderer". Q. How should one practise mindfulness of death "throughthe absence of an efficient cause" ? There is no cause or skill that can makelife immortal. When the sun and the moon rise, no cause or skill can makethem turn back. Thus the yogin practises mindfulness of death. Q. Howdoes one practise mindfulness of death "through inference"? A. Manykings who possessed great treasures, great vehicle-kings, Maha Sudassana ofgreat supernormal power, Mandhatu and all other kings entered the state ofdeath. And again, many sages of old, Vessamitta and Yamataggi, who possessed1. Cp. Vis. Mag. 229: Yam pan'etam arahantanam vattadukkhasamucchedasankhdtamsamucchedamaranam, sankhdrdnam khanabhangasankhdtam khanikatnaranath, rukkhomato, loharh matam ti ddisu sarnmutimaranan ca, na tarn idha adhippetam.2. Cp. Tbid: Kdlamarana and akdlamarana.3. Pordnakdcariya.4. Vadhakapaccupatthanato, sampattivipattito (?), upasamharanato, kayabahusadharanato,dyudubbalato, addhanaparicchedato, animittato* khanaparittato. Cp. Vis. Mag. 230.* This is different from Vis. Mag.