AN7.49 — Dutiyasannasutta
Disciples, these seven perceptions, when developed and cultivated, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination. What are the seven?
The perception of unattractiveness, the perception of death, the perception of repulsiveness in food, the perception of dissatisfaction in every world, the perception of impermanence, the perception of suffering in impermanence, the perception of non-self in suffering.
These are the seven perceptions which, when developed and cultivated, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.
Perception of Unattractiveness
The perception of unattractiveness when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination. Thus it has been said. Why was this said?
With frequent contemplation of the perception of unattractiveness, the mind of a disciple who dwells in it often turns away from sexual desire, does not incline toward it. Either dispassion or revulsion is present.
Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into a fire draws back and does not spread, so too, with frequent contemplation of the perception of unattractiveness, the mind of a disciple who dwells in it often draws back from sexual desire and does not incline toward it. Either dispassion or revulsion is present.
If, however, while dwelling frequently in the perception of unattractiveness, a disciple notices that the mind still inclines toward sexual desire, even though indifference may be present, it should be understood by that disciple: My perception of unattractiveness is not yet developed. There is no clear difference for me between before and after. The strength of this cultivation has not yet been attained. Thus he is clearly aware of this.
But if, while dwelling frequently in the perception of unattractiveness, a disciple notices that the mind draws back from sexual desire and does not incline toward it, with either dispassion or revulsion present, it should be understood by that disciple: My perception of unattractiveness is well developed. There is a clear difference for me between before and after. The strength of this cultivation has been attained. Thus he is clearly aware of this.
The perception of unattractiveness when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said with reference to this.
Perception of Death
The perception of death when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said. Why was this said?
With frequent contemplation of the perception of death, the mind of a disciple who dwells in it often turns away from attachment to continued existence and does not incline toward it. Either dispassion or revulsion is present.
Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into a fire draws back and does not spread, so too, with frequent contemplation of the perception of death, the mind of a disciple who dwells in it often draws back from attachment to continued existence and does not incline toward it. Either dispassion or revulsion is present.
If, however, while dwelling frequently in the perception of death, a disciple notices that the mind still inclines toward continued existence, even though indifference may be present, it should be understood by that disciple: My perception of death is not yet developed. There is no clear difference for me between before and after. The strength of this cultivation has not yet been attained. Thus he is clearly aware of this.
But if, while dwelling frequently in the perception of death, a disciple notices that the mind draws back from attachment to continued existence and does not incline toward it, with either dispassion or revulsion present, it should be understood by that disciple: My perception of death is well developed. There is a clear difference for me between before and after. The strength of this cultivation has been attained. Thus he is clearly aware of this.
The perception of death when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said with reference to this.
Perception of Repulsiveness in Food
The perception of repulsiveness in food when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it has indeed been said. Why has this been said?
Disciples, with frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind becomes devoid of craving for sensual pleasures, does not incline towards them, either indifference or repulsion stands.
Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.
Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind becomes devoid of craving for sensual pleasures, does not incline towards them, either indifference or repulsion stands.
Perception of Dissatisfaction in Every World
The perception of dissatisfaction in every world when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it has indeed been said. Why has this been said?
Disciples, with frequent contemplation of the perception of dissatisfaction in every world, the mind becomes devoid of craving for sensual pleasures, does not incline towards them, either indifference or repulsion stands.
Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.
Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of dissatisfaction in every world, the mind becomes devoid of craving for sensual pleasures, does not incline towards them, either indifference or repulsion stands.
Perception of Impermanence
The perception of impermanence when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it has indeed been said. Why has this been said?
Disciples, with frequent contemplation of the perception of impermanence, the mind withdraws from gain, honor, and fame, either equanimity or repulsion arises.
Just as a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire withdraws, contracts, and recoils, it does not spread out.
Similarly with frequent contemplation of the perception of impermanence, the mind withdraws from gain, honor, and fame, either equanimity or repulsion arises.
Perception of Suffering in Impermanence
The perception of suffering in impermanence, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination. Thus it has been said. And why has this been said?
For a disciple who frequently attends to the perception of suffering in impermanence, a keen perception of danger becomes established, just as for a murderer standing with a raised sword.
But for a disciple who has seen things as they truly are, who no longer clings, that keen perception of danger does not arise.
Perception of Not-self in Suffering
The perception of not-self in suffering when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus indeed it has been said. Why has this been said?
Because with frequent contemplation of the perception of not-self in suffering, the mind becomes devoid of egoism, conceit, and arrogance, surpassed, peaceful, and utterly liberated.
These seven perceptions when developed and cultivated, are of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination.