Ekottaragama (Sanskrit fragments) 3.10.8-9

3.10.8

諸比丘對曰：「如是。世尊！」諸比丘前受教已。

They replied, “Yes, Bhagavān.”

Once the monks had accepted the teaching, the Bhagavān told them, “Suppose a monk sits cross-legged with correct posture and thought and fixes his attention on what’s in front of him. With no other idea, he focuses on recollecting death.

3.10.9

世尊告曰：「若有比丘正身正意，結跏趺坐，繫念在前，無有他想，專精念死。所謂死者，此沒生彼，往來諸趣，命逝不停，諸根散壞，如腐敗木，命根斷絕，宗族分離，無形無響，亦無相貌。如是，諸比丘！名曰念死，便得具足，成大果報，諸善普至，得甘露味，至無為處，便成神通，除諸亂想，獲沙門果，自致涅槃。是故，諸比丘！常當思惟，不離死念，便當獲此諸善功德。如是，諸比丘！當作是學。」

“‘Death’ means disappearing here and being born there, rebirth among the destinies, life departing and being unstable, and the limbs crumbling like rotten wood. The life faculty comes to an end, and one leaves tribe and clan without shape, echo, or appearance.

“This is how someone who cultivates the recollection of death will become well known, achieve a great reward and all good and complete attainments, attain the sweet-tasting dew, and arrive at the unconditioned state. They’ll achieve spiritual knowledge, dispel their confused ideas, win the fruits of the ascetic, and bring about nirvāṇa themselves.

“Therefore, monks, one should constantly recollect death and not part from it. Then, they’ll win these good virtues. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”