---
title: "Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 22 of 105
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/22/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga, section 22. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/22/"
---

# Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The path: the noble eightfold path, the factors of awakening, mindfulness meditation, breathing, and the first teaching, Turning the Wheel of Dhamma.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 22. Breathing · SN 46.57–46.65

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/22/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/22/#p-N

[¶0] SN 46.57 · A Skeleton

> Pali: SN 46.57 · Aṭṭhikamahapphalasutta

[¶1] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶2] “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of a skeleton together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the perception of a skeleton, when developed and cultivated, is very fruitful and beneficial.”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.

[¶3] > Pali: Aññataraphalasutta

[¶4] “When the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return. How so? …”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññāya, bhikkhave, bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā. Kathaṁ bhāvitāya ca kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññāya kathaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitāya kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññāya evaṁ bahulīkatāya dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā”ti.

[¶5] > Pali: Mahatthasutta

[¶6] “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great benefit. How so? …”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato atthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

[¶7] > Pali: Yogakkhemasutta

[¶8] “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great sanctuary from the yoke. How so? …”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato yogakkhemāya saṁvattatī”ti.

[¶9] > Pali: Saṁvegasutta

[¶10] “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great inspiration. How so? …”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato saṁvegāya saṁvattatī”ti.

[¶11] > Pali: Phāsuvihārasutta

[¶12] “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to dwelling in great ease. How so? …”

> Pali: “Aṭṭhikasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… aṭṭhikasaññāsahagataṁ upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhikasaññā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahato phāsuvihārāya saṁvattatī”ti

[¶13] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶14] SN 46.58 · Worm-Infested

> Pali: SN 46.58 · Puḷavakasutta

[¶15] “Mendicants, when the perception of a worm-infested corpse is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Puḷavakasaññā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā …pe…”

[¶16] > Pali: dutiyaṁ.

[¶17] SN 46.59 · Livid

> Pali: SN 46.59 · Vinīlakasutta

[¶18] “Mendicants, when the perception of a livid corpse is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Vinīlakasaññā, bhikkhave …pe…”

[¶19] > Pali: tatiyaṁ.

[¶20] SN 46.60 · Split Open

> Pali: SN 46.60 · Vicchiddakasutta

[¶21] “Mendicants, when the perception of a split open corpse is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Vicchiddakasaññā, bhikkhave …pe…”

[¶22] > Pali: catutthaṁ.

[¶23] SN 46.61 · Bloated

> Pali: SN 46.61 · Uddhumātakasutta

[¶24] “Mendicants, when the perception of a bloated corpse is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Uddhumātakasaññā, bhikkhave …pe…”

[¶25] > Pali: pañcamaṁ.

[¶26] SN 46.62 · Love

> Pali: SN 46.62 · Mettāsutta

[¶27] “Mendicants, when love is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Mettā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā …pe…”

[¶28] > Pali: chaṭṭhaṁ.

[¶29] SN 46.63 · Compassion

> Pali: SN 46.63 · Karuṇāsutta

[¶30] “Mendicants, when compassion is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Karuṇā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā …pe…”

[¶31] > Pali: sattamaṁ.

[¶32] SN 46.64 · Rejoicing

> Pali: SN 46.64 · Muditāsutta

[¶33] “Mendicants, when rejoicing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Muditā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā …pe…”

[¶34] > Pali: aṭṭhamaṁ.

[¶35] SN 46.65 · Equanimity

> Pali: SN 46.65 · Upekkhāsutta

[¶36] “Mendicants, when equanimity is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. …”

> Pali: “Upekkhā, bhikkhave, bhāvitā …pe…”

[¶37] > Pali: navamaṁ.