Sīvathikā
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sīvathikā: 'cemetery contemplations', as deseribed in D. 22 and M. 10, have as their objects a corpse one or two or three days old, swollen up, blue-black in colour, full of corruption; a corpse eaten by crows, etc.;
a framework of bones; flesh hanging from it, bespattered with blood, held together by the sinews; without flesh and blood, but still held together by the sinews;
bones scattered in all direction; bleached and resembling shells; heaped together after the lapse of years; weathered and crumbled to dust.
At the end of each of these contemplations there follows the conclusion:
"This body of mine also has this nature, has this destiny, cannot escape it."
Similar are the 10 objects of loathsomeness (asubha q.v.
