Five things ought to be contemplated

We read in the “Gradual Sayings” (Book of the Fives, Ch VI, §7, Things to be contemplated) that the Buddha said to the monks: “Monks, these five things ought to be often contemplated by woman and man, by house-dweller and by him gone forth. What five?

Old age can come upon me; I have not outstripped old age!- this ought to be often contemplated by woman and man, by house-dweller and by him gone forth.

Disease can come upon me; I have not outstripped disease! ...

Death can come upon me; I have not outstripped death! ...

All things near and dear to me are subject to variableness, subject to separation! ...

I am the result of my own deeds; heir to deeds; deeds are matrix; deeds are kin; deeds are foundation; whatever deed I do, whether good or bad, I shall become heir to it!- this ought to be often contemplated by woman and man, by house-dweller and by him gone forth ... ”

The Buddha then explained that through the first three contemplations the pride of youth, the pride of health and the pride of life are got rid of or reduced. Through the contemplation of the fact that those near and dear are subject to variableness and separation, passionate desire is got rid of or reduced. Through the contemplation of kamma and vipaka defilements are got rid of or reduced. We read further on in this sutta:

“Monks, the ariyan disciple reflects thus: I am not the only one who is subject to old age, who has not outstripped old age; but wheresoever there are beings, coming and going, faring on and arising, all are subject to old age, none has outstripped it. And while he often contemplates this thing, the Way comes into being; and that Way he follows, makes become and develops; and in doing so the fetters are got rid of, the tendencies are removed.”

The Buddha taught the truth about our life, he taught the truth of all conditioned realities which are impermanent and not self. The development of the eightfold Path eventually leads to the eradication of defilements at the attainment of arahatship. According to the commentary, the “Manorathapurani”, the Buddha taught in this sutta by way of these five contemplations vipassana and lokuttara magga, the supramundane Path arising later on.

Do we realize the truth of these five contemplations, or do we just read this sutta and then forget about it? Do we realize that we are becoming older, even each splitsecond?