Five Subjects for Daily Recollection

Updated 4 February 2022

Five Subjects for Daily Recollection

The Five Subjects for Daily Recollection

Jarâ-dhammomhi jaram anatîto.
I am subject to aging. Aging is unavoidable.

Byâdhi-dhammomhi byâdhim; anatîto.
I am subject to illness. Illness is unavoidable.

Marana-dhammomhi maranam; anatîto.
I am subject to death. Death is unavoidable.

Sabbehi me piyehi manâpehi nânâ-bhâvo vinâ-bhâvo.
I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.

Kammassakomhi kamma-dâyâdo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-patisarano.
I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions.

Yam kammam karissâmi kalyânam vâ pâpakam vâ tassa dâyâdo bhavissâmi.
Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.

Evam, amhehi abhinham paccavekkhitabbam.
We should often reflect on this.

The Five Subjects for Daily Recollection

  1. Byadhidhammomhi, byadhim anatito
  2. Maranadhammomhi maranam anatito
  3. Sabbehi me piyehi manapehi nanabhavo vinabhavo
  4. Kammasakkomhi kammadayado kammayoni kammabandhu kammapatisarano
  5. Yam kammam karissami kalyanam va papakam va tassa dayado bhavissami

BPS Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy Sri Lanka

Wheel 206-207, Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room Uposatha Day, and Rains Residence, Bhikkhu Khantipālo, BPS Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy Sri Lanka.

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh206_Khantipalo_Lay-Buddhist-Practice.html

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html

“The Five Subjects for Daily Recollection “by woman or man, householder or monk”

There are other recollections which one can make and which help one to appreciate the state of a human being. People tend to hide away from decay, disease and death while greatly attached to sentient beings and insentient objects. Some people try also to ignore moral responsibility for their actions. The recollections below bring all these subjects out into the light and make us face them squarely. Therefore, the Buddha has said that they should be recollected by everyone daily.

  1. I am of the nature to decay. I have not got beyond decay
  2. I am of the nature to be diseased. I have not got beyond disease
  3. I am of the nature to die. I have not got beyond death
  4. All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will change and vanish
  5. I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma, born of my kamma, related to my kamma, abide supported by my kamma. Whatever kamma I shall do, whether good or evil, of that I shall be the heir.

This recollection is especially good for arousing mentally vigorous states and for getting rid of laziness and drowsiness. Repeated every day, these recollections make one value this life so that one makes the best use of it.”

Sutta

The Sutta which includes the Five Subjects for Daily Recollection is

AN 5:57 Anguttara Nikaya Upajjhatthana Sutta Subjects for Contemplation

https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN5_57.html

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

Audio Reading of AN 5:57 Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation

https://www.suttareadings.net/

https://www.suttareadings.net/audio/index.html#an05.057

https://www.suttareadings.net/audio/an05.057.kmas.mp3

Theravada