[171] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nādika, in the Brick Dwelling (Giñjakāvasatha). There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus … "Bhikkhus, mindfulness of death (maraṇassati), when developed and made much of, is of great fruit and great benefit, plunging into the Deathless, culminating in the Deathless. And how, bhikkhus, is mindfulness of death developed, how is it made much of, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit, plunging into the Deathless, culminating in the Deathless?
"Here, bhikkhus, when the day has departed and the night has set in, a bhikkhu reflects thus: 'Many indeed are the conditions of my death: a snake might bite me, or a scorpion might sting me, or a centipede might bite me — thereby I might meet my death; that would be an obstacle for me. Or I might stumble and fall; or the food I have eaten might disagree with me; or my bile might become agitated; or my phlegm might become agitated; or the knife-like winds in me might become agitated; or humans might attack me, or non-humans might attack me — thereby I might meet my death; that would be an obstacle for me.' Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: 'Are there in me any evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the night?' If, bhikkhus, reviewing, the bhikkhu knows thus: 'There are in me evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the night,' then that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states. Just as, bhikkhus, one whose clothes were ablaze or whose head were ablaze would apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension to extinguish the fire on those very clothes or on that head, even so, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states. But if, bhikkhus, reviewing, the bhikkhu knows thus: 'There are in me no evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the night,' then that bhikkhu should dwell in that very rapture and gladness, training day and night in wholesome states.
"Here again, bhikkhus, when the night has departed and the day has set in, a bhikkhu reflects thus: 'Many indeed are the conditions of my death: a snake might bite me, or a scorpion might sting me, or a centipede might bite me — thereby I might meet my death; that would be an obstacle for me. Or I might stumble and fall; or the food I have eaten might disagree with me; or my bile might become agitated; or my phlegm might become agitated; or the knife-like winds in me might become agitated; or humans might attack me, or non-humans might attack me — thereby I might meet my death; that would be an obstacle for me.' Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: 'Are there in me any evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the day?' If, bhikkhus, reviewing, the bhikkhu knows thus: 'There are in me evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the day,' then that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states. Just as, bhikkhus, one whose clothes were ablaze or whose head were ablaze would apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension to extinguish the fire on those very clothes or on that head, even so, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should apply extraordinary desire, effort, exertion, endeavor, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the abandoning of those very evil, unwholesome states. But if, bhikkhus, reviewing, the bhikkhu knows thus: 'There are in me no evil, unwholesome states not yet abandoned, which would be an obstacle for me if I should die during the day,' then that bhikkhu should dwell in that very rapture and gladness, training day and night in wholesome states.
"It is when developed thus, bhikkhus, made much of thus, that mindfulness of death is of great fruit and great benefit, plunging into the Deathless, culminating in the Deathless."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.