AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.246 Lying Postures

Numbered Discourses 4.246 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.246

25. Perils of Offenses – 25. Āpattibhayavagga

AN 4.246 Lying Postures – Seyyāsutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four ways of lying down.

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, seyyā.

1.2

What four?

Katamā catasso?

1.3

The ways a corpse, a pleasure seeker, a lion, and a Realized One lie down.

Petaseyyā, kāmabhogiseyyā, sīhaseyyā, tathāgataseyyā.

1.4

And how does a corpse lie down?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, petaseyyā?

1.5

Corpses usually lie flat on their backs.

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, petā uttānā senti;

1.6

This is called the way a corpse lies down.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, petaseyyā.

2.1

And how does a pleasure seeker lie down?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā?

2.2

Pleasure seekers usually lie down on their left side.

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, kāmabhogī vāmena passena senti;

2.3

This is called the way a pleasure seeker lies down.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā.

3.1

And how does a lion lie down?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā?

3.2

The lion, king of beasts, lies down on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other, with his tail tucked between his thighs.

Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā dakkhiṇena passena seyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, antarasatthimhi naṅguṭṭhaṁ anupakkhipitvā.

3.3

When he wakes, he lifts his front quarters and checks his hind quarters.

So paṭibujjhitvā purimaṁ kāyaṁ abbhunnāmetvā pacchimaṁ kāyaṁ anuviloketi.

3.4

If he sees that any part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is displeased.

Sace, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ vā visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā anattamano hoti.

3.5

But if he sees that no part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is pleased.

Sace pana, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā na kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ vā visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā attamano hoti.

3.6

This is called the way a lion lies down.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā.

4.1

And how does a Realized One lie down?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā?

4.2

It’s when a Realized One, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption.

Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

4.3

This is called the way a Realized One lies down.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā.

4.4

These are the four ways of lying down.”

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso seyyā”ti.

4.5

Catutthaṁ.