Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

176 Vimuttimaggaworms: those that rely on the front of the body and gnaw the front of thebody; those that rely on the back of the body and gnaw the back of the body;those that rely on the left side of the body and gnaw the left side of the body;those that rely on the right side of the body and gnaw the right side of thebody. These worms are called candasira* sinkasira* hucura* and so forth.There are three kinds of worms that rely on the two lower orifices. The firstis called kurukulayuyu* The second is called sarayu* The third is calledkandupada.* Thus one should recall to mind the nature of the body through"worms".Q. How should one reflect on the nature of the body through "connection"?A. The shin-bone is connected with the foot-bone; the shin-bone isconnected with the thigh-bone; the thigh-bone is connected with the hip-bone;the hip-bone is connected with the backbone; the backbone is connected withthe shoulder-blade; the shoulder-blade is connected with the humerus; thehumerus is connected with the neck-bone; the neck-bone is connected with theskull; the skull is connected with the cheek-bones. The cheek-bones areconnected with the teeth. Thus by the connection of the bones and the coveringof the skin, this unclean body is kept in position and is complete. This body isborn of kamma. Nobody makes this. Thus should one recall the nature ofthe body through "connection".BONES OF THE BODYHow should one reflect on the nature of the body through "assemblage"?There are nine bones of the head, two cheek bones, thirty-two teeth, sevenneck-bones, fourteen ribs, twenty-four side-bones, eighteen joints of the spine,two hip-bones, sixty-four hand-bones, sixty-four foot-bones, and sixty-foursoft-bones which depend on the flesh. These three hundred bones and eightor nine hundered tendons are connected with each other. There are ninehundred muscles, seventeen thousand textures of the skin, eight million hairsof the head, ninety-nine thousand hairs of the body, sixty interstices, eightythousand worms. Bile, saliva and brain are each a palata* in weight — inRyo this is equal to four ryo — and blood is one attha* in weight — in Ryothis is equal to three sho. All these many and varied forms are only a heap offilth, a collection of urine and are called body. Thus should one recollect onthe nature of the body through "assemblage".How should one reflect on the nature of the body through "loathsomeness" ?A man esteems purification most. The things which a man holds dear aresuch means of adorning himself as sweet perfume, unguents and pastes andbeautiful clothes, and bedspreads, pillows, mats and cushions used for sleepingand sitting, bolsters, blankets, canopies, bedding, and various kinds of foodand drink, dwelling-places and gifts. A man manifests much attachment to* Transliterations.