Mahasatipatthanasutta 6.1-7

6.1

Puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṃ yathāṭhitaṃ yathāpaṇihitaṃ dhātuso paccavekkhati:

Furthermore, a mendicant examines their own body, whatever its placement or posture, according to the elements:

6.2

‘atthi imasmiṃ kāye pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.

‘In this body there is the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the air element.’

6.3

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dakkho goghātako vā goghātakantevāsī vā gāviṃ vadhitvā catumahāpathe bilaso vibhajitvā nisinno assa;

It’s as if a deft butcher or butcher’s apprentice were to kill a cow and sit down at the crossroads with the meat cut into chops.

6.4

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṃ yathāṭhitaṃ yathāpaṇihitaṃ dhātuso paccavekkhati:

6.5

‘atthi imasmiṃ kāye pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.

6.6

Iti ajjhattaṃ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati …pe…

And so they meditate observing an aspect of the body internally …

6.7

Evampi kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati.

That too is how a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body.