And again, a bhikkhu examines and reflects closely upon this very body however it be placed or disposed as composed of primary elements thus:

“There exists in this body the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the air element.”

Just as if a skillful butcher or his apprentice, having slaughtered a cow and divided it into portions were sitting at the junction of four high roads, just so, a bhikkhu examines and reflects closely upon this body however it be placed or disposed as composed of the primary elements thus:

“There exists in this body the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the air element.”

Thus he dwells perceiving again and again the body as just the body, not mine, not I, not self, but just a phenomenon, in himself; or he dwells perceiving again and again the body as just the body in others ; or he dwells perceiving again and again the body as just the body in both himself and in others. He dwells perceiving again and again the cause and the actual appearing of the body; or he dwells perceiving gain and again the cause and the actual dissolution of the body; or he dwells perceiving again and again both the actual appearing and dissolution of the body with their causes.

To summarize, he is firmly mindful of the fact that only the body exists, not a soul, a self or I. That mindfulness is just for gaining insight and mindfulness progressively. Being detached from craving and wrong views he dwells without clinging to anything in the world.

Thus, this is a way in which a bhikkhu dwells perceiving again and again the body as just the body.