Contemplation of the Impurity of the Material Body

Ru Chun: There was a time when I accompanied a family member in the hospital. In the same ward were two retired cadres. One had undergone a tracheotomy, with two tubes inserted in his throat—one for breathing and one for feeding. He was unable to manage his own bodily functions. In the middle of the night, he would often be choked by phlegm, unable to breathe, unable to cough it up or swallow it down. He would cough and wheeze desperately, gasping for breath as if about to suffocate. It was agonizing to watch. At such moments, what use were his abundant bank deposits, high status, power, fame, talent, or his excellent and loving family? Could any of these relieve him of such suffering? Could he trade his wealth, status, success, or love with the great demon of impermanence for one more day of life or a little less suffering? Certainly not.

The other patient had Parkinson's disease. He could basically manage his daily life, eating and using the restroom on his own. However, his family caregiver was extremely impatient, frequently scolding and showing contempt for him. While eating, he would chew with sticky fluid dripping from the corner of his mouth, and he often failed to clean himself properly after using the restroom. Think about it: what exactly is a human being? What do our bodies contain? Yet, for this foul and filthy bag of skin, we still consider it lovely and noble. We cling greedily to our own and others’ five aggregates, striving to build careers and achievements for it, exhausting ourselves to create various names and forms to make it appear majestic and extraordinary. How utterly foolish and shameful!

Commentary: From various phenomena, it is evident that the physical body is indeed impure. Pure seeds of the four great elements, combined according to impure karmic seeds, create this impure physical body. To then become attached to it is truly foolish. Throughout a lifetime, we have done too much for this impure thing and paid too high a price. Most of our time is spent busily serving it. We should have grown weary of it long ago. For the sake of the path, we need not abandon this physical body—merely use it. Use it to cultivate the path, accumulate blessings, practice goodness, establish virtue, and accomplish various meritorious deeds. Beyond that, it holds little real significance. Yet, so many people cling desperately to this thing. Sentient beings throughout the six realms cling to it, unaware that it is only meant for temporary use. Clinging is useless and unnecessary. With clinging comes the loss of right mindfulness; it is wrong knowledge and wrong view—deluded karma that leads to the suffering of birth, death, and rebirth. When the Buddha was in the world, he once pointed to a group of ants and said: "Because these ants cling to their physical bodies, even after seven Buddhas have appeared, they remain in the form of ants." Thus, it is clear that clinging and greedy attachment cause one to remain, over countless kalpas, unable to evolve toward a higher form of life—let alone attain liberation.

Today, we have encountered the liberating teachings of both the Mahayana and Hinayana. Although we may believe in and practice them, that deep-seated clinging remains utterly unshaken, not diminished in the slightest. In matters of food, clothing, shelter, and daily activities, we are extremely attached to, greedy for, protective of, and obsessed with this physical body. We refuse to lower our standard of living even a little, unwilling to enjoy less, fearing we might suffer a loss. Yet, we remain unaware that we are constantly suffering great losses. How foolish we are, yet completely oblivious, lacking any awareness.