Ten Reflections

Dasa ime bhikkhave dhammā,

Pabbajitena abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbā,

Those gone forth should frequently reflect on these ten things.

Katame dasa?

Which ten?

1) Vevaṇṇiyamhi ajjhūpagatoti.

I have left the social order.

2) Parapaṭibaddhā me jīvikāti.

My life needs the support of others.

3) Añño me ākappo karaṇīyoti.

I must change the way I behave.

4) Kacci nu kho me attā sīlato na upavadatīti?

Can I fault myself with regard to the precepts?

5) Kacci nu kho maṃ anuvicca viññū sabrahma-cārī sīlato na upavadantīti?

Can my knowledgeable fellows in the holy life, on close examination, fault me with regard to the precepts?

6) Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānā-bhāvo vinā-bhāvoti.

I will grow different, separate from all that is dear & appealing to me.

7) Kammassakomhi kamma-dāyādo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-paṭisaraṇo. Yaṃ kammaṃ karissāmi kalyāṇaṃ vā pāpakaṃ vā tassa dāyādo bhavissāmīti.

I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.

8) Katham-bhūtassa me rattin-divā vītipatantīti?

What am I becoming as the days & the nights fly past?

9) Kacci nu kho'haṃ suññāgāre abhiramāmīti?

Is there an empty dwelling in which I delight?

10) Atthi nu kho me uttari-manussa-dhammā,

Alam-ariya-ñāṇa-dassana-viseso adhigato,

So'haṃ pacchime kāle sabrahma-cārīhi puṭṭho,

Na maṅku bhavissāmīti?

Have I attained a superior human state, a truly noble knowledge & vision, such that when my fellows in the holy life ask me near the hour of my death, I will not feel ashamed?

Ime kho bhikkhave dasa dhammā pabbajitena abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbāti.

These are the ten things on which those gone forth should frequently reflect.

The Four Dhamma Summaries

1. Upanīyati loko,

The world is swept away.

Addhuvo.

It does not endure.

2. Atāṇo loko,

The world offers no shelter.

Anabhissaro.

There is no one in charge.

3. Assako loko,

The world has nothing of its own.

Sabbaṃ pahāya gamanīyaṃ.

One has to pass on
leaving everything behind.

4. Ūno loko,

The world is insufficient,

Atitto,

insatiable,

Taṇhā dāso.

a slave to craving.

The Verses on the Noble Truths

Ye dukkhaṃ nappajānanti

Those who don't discern suffering,

Atho dukkhassa sambhavaṃ

suffering's cause,

Yattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṃ

Asesaṃ uparujjhati,

and where it totally stops, without trace,

Tañca maggaṃ na jānanti,

who don't understand the path,

Dukkhūpasama-gāminaṃ

the way to the stilling of suffering:

Ceto-vimutti-hīnā te

They are far from awareness-release,

Atho paññā-vimuttiyā,

and discernment-release.

Abhabbā te anta-kiriyāya

Incapable of making an end,

Te ve jāti-jarūpagā.

they'll return to birth & aging again.

Ye ca dukkhaṃ pajānanti

While those who do discern suffering,

Atho dukkhassa sambhavaṃ,

suffering's cause,

Yattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṃ

Asesaṃ uparujjhati,

and where it totally stops, without trace,

Tañca maggaṃ pajānanti,

who understand the path,

Dukkhūpasama-gāminaṃ:

the way to the stilling of suffering:

Ceto-vimutti-sampannā

They are consummate in awareness-release,

Atho paññā-vimuttiyā,

and in discernment-release.

Bhabbā te anta-kiriyāya

Capable of making an end,

Na te jāti-jarūpagāti.

they won't return to birth & aging ever again.

The Verses on Respect

Satthu-garu dhamma-garu

One with respect for the Buddha & Dhamma,

Saṅghe ca tibba-gāravo,

and strong respect for the Saṅgha,

Samādhi-garu ātāpī,

one who is ardent, with respect for concentration,

Sikkhāya tibba-gāravo,

and strong respect for the Training,

Appamāda-garu bhikkhu,

one who sees danger and respects being heedful,

Paṭisanthāra-gāravo:

and shows respect in welcoming guests:

Abhabbo parihānāya,

A person like this cannot decline,

Nibbānasseva santike,

stands right in the presence of Nibbana.

The Verses on Friends

Aññadatthu haro mitto

One who makes friends only to cheat them,

Yo ca mitto vacī-paramo,

one who is good only in word,

Anupiyañca yo āhu,

one who flatters & cajoles,

Apāyesu ca yo sakhā,

and a companion in ruinous fun:

Ete amitte cattāro

Iti viññāya paṇḍito

These four the wise know as non-friends.

Ārakā parivajjeyya

Avoid them from afar,

Maggaṃ paṭibhayaṃ yathā.

like a dangerous road.

Upakāro ca yo mitto,

A friend who is helpful,

Sukha-dukkho ca yo sakhā,

one who shares in your sorrows & joys,

Atthakkhāyī ca yo mitto,

one who points you to worthwhile things,

Yo ca mittānukampako,

one sympathetic to friends:

Etepi mitte cattāro

Iti viññāya paṇḍito

These four, the wise know as true friends.

Sakkaccaṃ payirupāseyya

Attend to them earnestly,

Mātā puttaṃ va orasaṃ.

as a mother her child.

Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection

 (LEADER):

Handa mayaṃ abhiṇha-paccavekkhaṇa-pāthaṃ bhaṇāma se:

Let us now recite the passage for frequent recollection:

(ALL):

Jarā-dhammomhi jaraṃ anatīto.

I am subject to aging. Aging is unavoidable.

Byādhi-dhammomhi byādhiṃ anatīto.

I am subject to illness. Illness is unavoidable.

Maraṇa-dhammomhi maraṇaṃ anatīto.

I am subject to death. Death is unavoidable.

Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānā-bhāvo vinā-bhāvo.

I will grow different, separate from all that is dear & appealing to me.

Kammassakomhi kamma-dāyādo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-paṭisaraṇo.

I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions.

Yaṃ kammaṃ karissāmi kalyāṇaṃ vā pāpakaṃ vā tassa dāyādo bhavissāmi.

Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.

Evaṃ amhehi abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbaṃ.

We should often reflect on this.

Reflections Contemplation of the Body

 (LEADER):

Handa mayaṃ kāyagatā-sati-bhāvanā-pāṭhaṃ bhaṇāma se:

Let us now recite the passage on mindfulness immersed in the body.

(ALL):

Ayaṃ kho me kāyo,

This body of mine,

Uddhaṃ pādatalā,

from the soles of the feet on up,

Adho kesa-matthakā,

from the crown of the head on down,

Taca-pariyanto,

surrounded by skin,

Pūro nānappakārassa asucino,

filled with all sorts of unclean things.

Atthi imasmiṃ kāye:

In this body there is:

Kesā

Hair of the head,

Lomā

Hair of the body,

Nakhā

Nails,

Dantā

Teeth,

Taco

Skin,

Maṃsaṃ

Flesh,

Nhārū

Tendons,

Aṭṭhī

Bones,

Aṭṭhimiñjaṃ

Bone marrow,

Vakkaṃ

Spleen,

Hadayaṃ

Heart,

Yakanaṃ

Liver,

Kilomakaṃ

Membranes,

Pihakaṃ

Kidneys,

Papphāsaṃ

Lungs,

Antaṃ

Large intestines,

Antaguṇaṃ

Small intestines,

Udariyaṃ

Gorge,

Karīsaṃ

Feces,

Matthake matthaluṅgaṃ

Brain,

Pittaṃ

Gall,

Semhaṃ

Phlegm,

Pubbo

Lymph,

Lohitaṃ

Blood,

Sedo

Sweat,

Medo

Fat,

Assu

Tears,

Vasā

Oil,

Kheḷo

Saliva,

Siṅghāṇikā

Mucus,

Lasikā

Oil in the joints,

Muttaṃ

Urine.

Evam-ayaṃ me kāyo:

Such is this body of mine:

Uddhaṃ pādatalā,

from the soles of the feet on up,

Adho kesa-matthakā,

from the crown of the head on down,

Taca-pariyanto,

surrounded by skin,

Pūro nānappakārassa asucino.

filled with all sorts of unclean things.

Reflection after Using the Requisites

 (LEADER):

Handa mayaṃ atīta-paccavekkhaṇa-pāṭhaṃ bhaṇāma se:

Now let us recite the passage for reflection on the past (use of the requisites):

(ALL):

[Ajja mayā] apaccavekkhitvā yaṃ cīvaraṃ paribhuttaṃ,

Whatever robe I used today without consideration,

Taṃ yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya,

Was simply to counteract the cold,

Uṇhassa paṭighātāya,

To counteract the heat,

Ḍaṃsa-makasa-vātātapa-siriṃsapa-samphassānaṃ paṭighātāya,

To counteract the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles;

Yāvadeva hirikopina-paṭicchādan'atthaṃ.

Simply for the purpose of covering the parts of the body that cause shame.

Ajja mayā apaccavekkhitvā yo piṇḍapatto paribhutto,

Whatever alms food I used today without consideration,

So neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya,

Was not used playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for putting on bulk, nor for beautification,

Yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṃsuparatiyā brahma-cariyānuggahāya,

But simply for the survival & continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the holy life,

Iti purāṇañca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi navañca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi,

(Thinking,) Thus will I destroy old feelings (of hunger) and not create new feelings (from overeating).

Yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsu-vihāro cāti.

I will maintain myself, be blameless, & live in comfort.

Ajja mayā apaccavekkhitvā yaṃ senāsanaṃ paribhuttaṃ,

Whatever lodging I used today without consideration,

Taṃ yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya,

Was simply to counteract the cold,

Uṇhassa paṭighātāya,

To counteract the heat,

Ḍaṃsa-makasa-vātātapa-siriṃsapa-samphassānaṃ paṭighātāya,

To counteract the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles;

Yāvadeva utuparissaya-vinodanaṃ paṭisallānārām'atthaṃ.

Simply for protection from the inclemencies of weather and for the enjoyment of seclusion.

Ajja mayā apaccavekkhitvā yo gilāna-paccaya-bhesajja-parikkhāro paribhutto,

Whatever medicinal requisite for curing the sick I used today without consideration,

So yāvadeva uppannānaṃ veyyābādhikānaṃ vedanānaṃ paṭighātāya,

Was simply to counteract any pains of illness that had arisen,

Abyāpajjha-paramatāyāti.

And for maximum freedom from disease.