Lal: In the “Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22)” the following verse appears repeatedly: “Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati” in the Kāyānupassana section.
Thank you, this clarifies a lot.
Qns 1:
Several translations interpret ajjhattaṁ and bahiddhā as internal and external, it could well be wrong. I know you have written posts about ajjhattaṁ and bahidda vinnana (as you have given here: Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation, under “Bahidda and Ajjhatta Viññāṇa”). Could you explain how you managed to derive these meanings?
Qns 2:
Additionally, “Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati” also comes right after contemplating about the dead body, for example
“Again, monks, a monk, when he sees a dead body that has been thrown in a charnel-ground, being eaten by crows, being eaten by vultures, being eaten by falcons, being eaten by herons, being eaten by dogs, being eaten by tigers, being eaten by leopards, being eaten by jackals and being eaten by different kinds of creatures, regarding his own body considers thus: “Indeed, this body is of the same nature, it will become like that and cannot escape it.”, followed by Iti ajjhattaṃ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati,
What is the possible ajjhatam and bahidda part we are supposed to contemplate about the dead body?
Qns 3:
‘atthi kāyo’ ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti. This appears in all 6 contemplation of kayanupassana. Would you say “kāyo” here refers to 5 aggregates or the physical body?
Qns 4:
“samudayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṃ viharati, vayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṃ viharati, samudayavayadhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṃ viharati” – This is also repeated right after “Iti ajjhattaṃ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati…”
I know it is something about rising (samudaya) and cessation (vaya) of phenomona. Howeverver, are we supposed to
- Merely observe and note down that the phenomena is arising and falling. This could potentially cultivate anicca sanna. OR
- Investigate why the phenomena is rising and falling? (This could potentially lead to further investigation of Paticca Samuppada)
I gave example 1 because it normally taught in Goekna Vipassana meditation.