Reading guide
Six named suttas, one site-facing number
Confirmed by direct reading of the root Pāli, this single discourse actually bundles six separately titled ancient suttas — Aṭṭhikamahapphalasutta, Aññataraphalasutta, Mahatthasutta, Yogakkhemasutta, Saṁvegasutta, and Phāsuvihārasutta — each restating the identical skeleton-perception-plus-awakening-factors claim with only its own named benefit changed. Yet the Pāli root's own closing numeral counts this entire six-part bundle as only “the first” topic of the vagga's own ten — confirming that this vagga's own topic count (ten) is independent of how many times the underlying sixfold benefit formula repeats within each topic.
A specific, named outcome for the not-yet-fully-free
The second of the six sub-suttas names a precise outcome: “enlightenment in this very life, or if there's residue left behind, non-return” — one of the more specific soteriological claims in this saṃyutta, naming exactly two possible outcomes rather than a vague spiritual benefit.
Key terms
The text
1. Very fruitful and beneficialAt Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of a skeleton together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the perception of a skeleton, when developed and cultivated, is very fruitful and beneficial.”
2. One of two fruits“When the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return. How so?…”
3. Great benefit“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great benefit. How so?…”
4. Great sanctuary from the yoke“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great sanctuary from the yoke. How so?…”
5. Great inspiration“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to great inspiration. How so?…”
6. Dwelling in great ease“Mendicants, when the perception of a skeleton is developed and cultivated it leads to dwelling in great ease. How so?…”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.