分別功德論 2.27

2.27

"Mindfulness of death" means that the practitioner contemplates: "Life passes away without stopping; the sense-faculties scatter and decay like rotten wood, and the life-faculty is cut off." One should contemplate impermanence to awaken oneself. In the past, there was a monk named Vakkali. Sitting in dhyāna and practicing the Way, years passed by and his defilements were not eradicated; he loathed his own body, considering it a great burden. He often thought of harming himself: "The reason one cannot attain the Way is precisely because of being entangled and transmigrating through this body; when will it ever cease?" Thereupon, holding a knife in his hand, he was about to slit his own throat, but then reflected again: "The World-Honoured One gave an admonition that his disciples must not mutilate themselves. Even so, I now seek nirvāṇa; in nirvāṇa there is no body, therefore I will first remove the body to take the unconditioned." Just then, he raised the knife and slit his own throat; as his head fell, his mind penetrated through, and he immediately attained the status of an arhat. The Buddha knew that he had already attained the Way, and commanded the monks to cremate his corpse. Therefore, mindfulness of death also leads to nirvāṇa.