The Buddha describes the four ways of lying down—the ways a corpse, a pleasure seeker, a lion, and a realized one lie down, and how does a corpse lie down?, and corpses usually lie flat on their backs.

AN 4.246 Lying Postures

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, seyyā. Katamā catasso? Petaseyyā, kāmabhogiseyyā, sīhaseyyā, tathāgataseyyā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, petaseyyā? Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, petā uttānā senti; ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, petaseyyā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā? Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, kāmabhogī vāmena passena senti; ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā? Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā dakkhiṇena passena seyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, antarasatthimhi naṅguṭṭhaṁ anupakkhipitvā. So paṭibujjhitvā purimaṁ kāyaṁ abbhunnāmetvā pacchimaṁ kāyaṁ anuviloketi. Sace, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā anattamano hoti. Sace pana, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā na kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā attamano hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā? Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso seyyā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, seyyā.

“Mendicants, there are these four ways of lying down.

Katamā catasso?

What four?

Petaseyyā, kāmabhogiseyyā, sīhaseyyā, tathāgataseyyā.

The ways a corpse, a pleasure seeker, a lion, and a Realized One lie down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, petaseyyā?

And how does a corpse lie down?

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, petā uttānā senti;

Corpses usually lie flat on their backs.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, petaseyyā.

This is called the way a corpse lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā?

And how does a pleasure seeker lie down?

Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, kāmabhogī vāmena passena senti;

Pleasure seekers usually lie down on their left side.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā.

This is called the way a pleasure seeker lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā?

And how does a lion lie down?

Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā dakkhiṇena passena seyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, antarasatthimhi naṅguṭṭhaṁ anupakkhipitvā.

The lion, king of beasts, lies down on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other, with his tail tucked between his thighs.

So paṭibujjhitvā purimaṁ kāyaṁ abbhunnāmetvā pacchimaṁ kāyaṁ anuviloketi.

When he wakes, he lifts his front quarters and checks his hind quarters.

Sace, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā anattamano hoti.

If he sees that any part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is displeased.

Sace pana, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā na kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā attamano hoti.

But if he sees that no part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is pleased.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā.

This is called the way a lion lies down.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā?

And how does a Realized One lie down?

Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

It’s when a Realized One, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā.

This is called the way a Realized One lies down.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso seyyā”ti.

These are the four ways of lying down.”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026