佛說觀佛三昧海經 2.18

2.18

"As for the contemplation of the nine stages of a corpse: First is the mark of the newly dead. One may see a dead person whose body is rigid and conscious of nothing at all, and one reflects, 'My body must also become like this, no different from it.' Thus it is called the mark of the newly dead. Second is the mark of livid discoloration. One may see a dead person, from one day up to seven days, whose body is swollen, livid, and blackish-blue, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this, no different from it.' Thus it is called the mark of livid discoloration. Third is the mark of pus and blood. One may see a dead person whose body has already putrefied, with blood flowing and smearing about, utterly revolting and unbearable to behold, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the mark of pus and blood. Fourth is the mark of crimson fluid. One may see a dead person with yellow water flowing out in all directions over the body, resembling crimson fluid, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the mark of crimson fluid. Fifth is the mark of being devoured. One may see a dead person being eaten by crows and birds, devoured by worms and wolves, and infested with maggots from flies, its flesh nearly gone or only half the body remaining, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the mark of being devoured. Sixth is the mark of a bundle of faggots bound by sinews. One may see a dead person whose skin and flesh are entirely gone, with only sinews and bones linked together, like a bundle of faggots holding its form without scattering apart because of this, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the mark of a bundle of faggots bound by sinews. Seventh is the mark of separated bones and joints. One may see a dead person whose sinews have already rotted away, with bones and joints scattered about and no longer in one place, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the mark of separated bones and joints. Eighth is the revolting mark of being charred by fire. One may see a dead person burned by a domestic fire or consumed by a wildfire, charred and shriveled upon the ground, utterly revolting and unbearable to behold, [and one reflects,] 'The body I cherish must also become like this.' Thus it is called the revolting mark of being charred by fire. Ninth is the mark of aged bones. One may see old, dried bones, whether fifty years, or up to one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred years old, that have turned white again; scorched through by the sun, flames blaze up from atop the bones, and after being burned by fire, they are blown by the wind into the earth and return to dust. This is called a brief exposition of the nine stages. This was how the Bodhisattva, when first seated beneath the tree, initially opened the gate to the contemplation of impurity.