मरणसति
Maraṇasati
Mindfulness of death / Death contemplation
死念
Grammar 語法
compound: maraṇa (death — neuter noun) + sati (mindfulness)
Definition 釋義
Contemplation of one's own inevitable death — one of the most powerful meditations in the Theravāda toolkit. The Maraṇassati Sutta (AN 6.19–20) describes meditators who contemplate that they might die within a day, an hour, or even between one breath and the next. The practice dismantles complacency and heedlessness (pamāda), generates urgency (saṃvega) in the practice, and cuts through the deep assumption that there is 'plenty of time'. It does not cultivate fear but wisdom — the clear recognition that this life is precious, brief, and uncertain.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Maraṇasati bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṃsā.
Mindfulness of death, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit.
Source: AN 6.19
Death Contemplation | Ajahn Brahmali | 13 April 2020
At a Glance
- Pali
- Maraṇasati
- IAST
- Maraṇasmṛti
- Devanagari
- मरणसति
- Chinese
- 死念
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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