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repulsiveness of 32 body parts
upekka
Veteran
does anyone know the correct method of how to do 'repulsive meditation'?
0
Comments
There are probably commentaries around, and I think Jayantha did something on it here a while back.
Check the source material, ie the Satipatthana Sutta: https://suttacentral.net/en/mn10.
Basically it's a visualisation exercise, you imagine each part in turn.
If you want something more manageable and less gruesome you could try the 4 or 6 element practice applied to the body. The 6-element practice adds space and consciousness to the usual 4, see here where it discusses the 6 elements of a person: https://suttacentral.net/en/mn140
PS "Property" is perhaps more accurate than "element".
I am attracted to women.
Particularly the derrière.
When I am walking around the city I try and imagine this body part alone being presented to me on a plate and whether I still find that attractive. It helps quell those fires a little. Very helpful as it's currently summer here and the young ladies tend to wear not much of anything!
Probably be tasty with some mint sauce though.
Or a nice chianti and some fava beans....
If its presented on a plate are we talking about rump steak?
Just think of all the mucous, blood, pus and poop floating around in there.
this is the way Buddha ask(s/ed) us to do to get rid of our attachment to the body internally (of our own) and externally (of body of others)
to get rid of one of the four wrong view (asube suba vipallasa) about perception (sanna)
four vipallasa (wrong views) are
asube suba
anatte atta
dukke suka
anatte nitta
@upekka I'm curious, are you actually contemplating trying this type of meditation?
yes
i did
and
i found it fruitful
and
then one can go to contemplate on four elements (eight element- suddhastaka)
that is more effective
to see 'form' (rupa) and emptiness (sunyatha)
contemplative on 32 body parts and eight element are two types of practicing mindfulness of the body in satara-sathi-patthana
Why? Wasn't this meditation originally designed for celibate young monks who can't stop thinking about pretty girls? Instead of seeing pretty lips and thinking of kissing them, think of vomit and spit coming out of them, etc. Unless you're a celibate monk, what would it do for you?
it helps one to reduce the attachment to one's own body and attachment to others' bodies
instead of asking question it is advisable to do the repulsive meditation on body parts (32 body parts) and see the results
Indeed. Some people probably need this more than others.
Ah. Considering at my age I need no special meditation to see an unattractive bag of aging flesh in my bathroom mirror anymore, I need the opposite. I think I should start on "Everyone is beautiful in their own way" meditation.
yes,
but it doesn't consider of one's age
in other words age and gender is irrelevant when lust comes into mind
it says in a sutta that saint sariputta is/was able to see repulsiveness in beautiful 'things' (meditation on patikkule sanna in appatikkula sanna)
and
able to see beauty in repulsive 'things' (meditation on appatikkule sanna in patikkule sanna)