Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
V. Akkosa Vagga

The Book of Tens

Sutta 49

Sarīra-ṭ-ṭha-Dhamma Suttaṃ

Things of this Bone-Supported Corpse

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

Once the Lucky Man Sāvatthī-town revisiting.

There he addressed the beggars, saying:

"Beggars!"

And "Bhante!" they replied

Then the Lucky Man said this to them:

"These ten, beggars are things^[1] of this bone-supported-corpse.^[2]

What ten?

Being cold,
being hot,
hunger,
thirst,
excretion,
urination,
restraint of body,^[3]
restraint of speech,
restraint of lifestyle,
the existence following the own-making of existence.^[4]

These then beggars are the ten things of this bone-supported-corpse."

 

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^[1] Dhammā. 'Things,' but here this comes very close to 'Tao' or the ways or destinies or fate or the rules of the game for those who have been reborn in a body.

^[2] Sarīra-ṭ-ṭhā. Sarīra = physical body, corpse; aṭṭhā = bones, the framework of bones, body of bones; plus Sarīra-ṭ-ṭhā: body-based.

^[3] kāya-, vacī-, ājīva-saṇvaro. Saṇ = own; varo > varatta = strap. This is the being restrained in movement, use of the voice and limitation in the scope of experience of one bound up in the body.

^[4] Pono-bhaviko bhava-saṅkhāro. The existence that follows personal actions of mind, speech and body intended to create experience of existence. Taking action on wishes and wantings.

 

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References:

See: Is Nibbāna Conditioned? Discussion on the translation of Saṅkhāra