Seyyāsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.246

Numbered Discourses 4.246

25. Āpattibhayavagga

25. Perils of Offenses

Seyyāsutta

Lying Postures

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, seyyā.

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

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Petaseyyā, kāmabhogiseyyā, sīhaseyyā, tathāgataseyyā.

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

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, petaseyyā?

And how does a corpse lie down?

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, petā uttānā senti;

Corpses usually lie flat on their backs.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, petaseyyā.

This is called the way a corpse lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā?

And how does a pleasure seeker lie down?

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, kāmabhogī vāmena passena senti;

Pleasure seekers usually lie down on their left side.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā.

This is called the way a pleasure seeker lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā?

And how does a lion lie down?

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

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.

So paṭibujjhitvā purimaṁ kāyaṁ abbhunnāmetvā pacchimaṁ kāyaṁ anuviloketi.

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

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

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

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

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

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā.

This is called the way a lion lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā?

And how does a Realized One lie down?

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

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.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā.

This is called the way a Realized One lies down.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso seyyā”ti.

These are the four ways of lying down.”

Catutthaṁ.