[290] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nādika, in the Brick Dwelling (Giñjakāvasatha). There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus." "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, mindfulness of death (maraṇassati), when developed and made much of, is of great fruit and great benefit, merging in the Deathless (amata), culminating in the Deathless. Do you, bhikkhus, develop mindfulness of death?"
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for a night and a day, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
Another bhikkhu too said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for a day, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
Another bhikkhu too said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I eat a single almsmeal, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
Another bhikkhu too said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I chew and swallow four morsels of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus too, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
Another bhikkhu too said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I chew and swallow a single morsel of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus too, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
Another bhikkhu too said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I too develop mindfulness of death." "But in what way, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness of death?" "Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which, having breathed in, I breathe out, or having breathed out, I breathe in, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' It is thus, venerable sir, that I develop mindfulness of death."
When this was said, the Blessed One said this to the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for a night and a day, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!'; and the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for a day, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!'; and the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I eat a single almsmeal, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!'; and the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I chew and swallow four or five morsels of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' — these, bhikkhus, are called bhikkhus who dwell heedless; they develop mindfulness of death sluggishly for the destruction of the taints (āsava). But the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which I chew and swallow a single morsel of food, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!'; and the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, who develops mindfulness of death thus: 'Oh, that I might live for the interval in which, having breathed in, I breathe out, or having breathed out, I breathe in, that I might attend to the Blessed One's teaching — much indeed would be done by me!' — these, bhikkhus, are called bhikkhus who dwell heedful; they develop mindfulness of death keenly for the destruction of the taints. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train thus: 'We shall dwell heedful; we shall develop mindfulness of death keenly for the destruction of the taints.' It is thus, bhikkhus, that you should train."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.