Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Yesterday, a dear kalyanamitta, the Venerable Dhammadipa Bhikkhuni, sent a video (in Thai I believe) wherein the female singer performs a song about the nature of this bodily form.

When I first watched I wasn’t too taken aback but upon subsequent viewings and reflection, it began to do its work.

This morning, during my short formal session, I dropped into contemplating my body decaying. Taking it as it was seated in my living room , I imagined that I had died and there was no one but the cat around. I visualized my flesh turning waxy, my abdomen swelling from the gases created by the bacteria feasting on my viscera. I saw my body slump and flop supine from its seated position. I felt what I can only describe as shame as my physical beauty was replaced by rot and as the cat, with no one to feed her, ate the soft parts of my head and body. Finally, the maggots came to finish the job as our cadavers (for the cat, too, had eventually died) turned into dedicated husks.

At certain points of real disgust and dis-ease I tried to linger and really feel the revulsion. This is the nature of the body. This is its only end. May I practice with these reflections until I have cut the cord of craving and no longer delight in physical form.