TheRootSequence MulapariyayaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya1)

INTRODUCTION TheBuddhalistedclingingtoviewsasoneofthefourformsofclingingthattiethe mindtotheprocessesofsuffering.Hethusrecommendedthathisfollowersrelinquish theirclinging,notonlytoviewsintheirfullblownformasspecificpositions,butalsoin theirrudimentaryformasthecategories&relationshipsthatthemindreadsinto experience.Thisisapointhemakesinthefollowingdiscourse,whichisapparentlyhis responsetoaparticularschoolofBrahmanicalthoughtthatwasdevelopinginhis timetheSamkhya,orclassificationschool. ThisschoolhaditsbeginningsinthethoughtofUddalaka,aninthcenturyB.C. philosopherwhopositedaroot:anabstractprincipleoutofwhichallthingsemanate andwhichremainsimmanentinallthings.Philosopherswhocarriedonthislineof thinkingofferedavarietyoftheories,basedonlogicandmeditativeexperience,aboutthe natureoftheultimaterootandaboutthehierarchyoftheemanation.Manyoftheir theorieswererecordedintheUpanishadsandeventuallydevelopedintotheclassical SamkhyasystemaroundthetimeoftheBuddha. Althoughthepresentdiscoursesaysnothingaboutthebackgroundofthemonks listeningtoit,theCommentarystatesthatbeforetheirordinationtheywerebrahmans, andthatevenaftertheirordinationtheycontinuedtointerprettheBuddhasteachings inlightoftheirprevioustraining,whichmaywellhavebeenprotoSamkhya.Ifthisisso, thentheBuddhasopeninglinesIwillteachyouthesequenceoftherootofall phenomenawouldhavethempreparedtohearhiscontributiontotheirlineof thinking.And,infact,thelistoftopicshecoversreadslikeaBuddhistSamkhya. ParallelingtheclassicalSamkhya,itcontains24items,beginswiththephysicalworld (here,thefourphysicalproperties),andleadsbackthroughevermorerefined&inclusive levelsofbeing&experience,culminatingwiththeultimateBuddhistconcept: Unbinding(nibbana).InthepatternofSamkhyathought,Unbindingwouldthusbethe ultimaterootorgroundofbeingimmanentinallthingsandoutofwhichtheyall emanate. However,insteadoffollowingthispatternofthinking,theBuddhaattacksitatits veryroot:thenotionofaprincipleintheabstract,thein(immanence)&outof 1

(emanation)superimposedonexperience.Onlyanuninstructed,runofthemillperson, hesays,wouldreadexperienceinthisway.Incontrast,apersonintrainingshouldlook foradifferentkindofroottherootofsufferingexperiencedinthepresentandfind itintheactofdelight.Developingdispassionforthatdelight,thetraineecanthen comprehendtheprocessofcomingintobeingforwhatitis,dropallparticipationinit, andthusachievetrueawakening. IfthelistenerspresentatthisdiscoursewereindeedinterestedinfittingBuddhist teachingsintoaSamkhyanmold,thenitssmallwonderthattheyweredispleasedone ofthefewplaceswherewereadofanegativereactiontotheBuddhaswords.Theyhad hopedtohearhiscontributiontotheirproject,butinsteadtheyheartheirwholepattern ofthinking&theorizingattackedasignorant&illinformed.TheCommentarytellsus, though,theywerelaterabletoovercometheirdispleasureandeventuallyattain awakeningonlisteningtothediscoursereportedinANIII.126. AlthoughatpresentwerarelythinkinthesametermsastheSamkhyaphilosophers, therehaslongbeenandstillisacommontendencytocreateaBuddhist metaphysicsinwhichtheexperienceofemptiness,theUnconditioned,theDharmabody, Buddhanature,rigpa,etc.,issaidtofunctionasthegroundofbeingfromwhichthe Alltheentiretyofoursensory&mentalexperienceissaidtospringandtowhich wereturnwhenwemeditate.Somepeoplethinkthatthesetheoriesaretheinventionsof scholarswithoutanydirectmeditativeexperience,butactuallytheyhavemostoften originatedamongmeditators,wholabel(orinthewordsofthediscourse,perceive)a particularmeditativeexperienceastheultimategoal,identifywithitinasubtleway(as whenwearetoldthatwearetheknowing),andthenviewthatlevelofexperienceas thegroundofbeingoutofwhichallotherexperiencecomes. Anyteachingthatfollowstheselineswouldbesubjecttothesamecriticismthatthe Buddhadirectedagainstthemonkswhofirstheardthisdiscourse. *** IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewasstayingatUkkattha,in theshadeofaroyalSaltreeintheVeryBlessedGrove.Thereheaddressedthe monks,Monks! Yes,lord,themonksresponded. TheBlessedOnesaid,Monks,Iwillteachyouthesequenceoftherootofall phenomena[or:therootsequenceofallphenomena].Listen&payclose attention.Iwillspeak. Asyousay,lord,theyresponded. 2

TheBlessedOnesaid:Thereisthecase,monks,whereanuninstructedrun ofthemillpersonwhohasnoregardfornobleones,isnotwellversedor disciplinedintheirDhamma;whohasnoregardformenofintegrity,isnotwell versedordisciplinedintheirDhammaperceivesearthasearth.Perceiving earthasearth,heconceives[things]aboutearth,heconceives[things]inearth,he conceives[things]comingoutofearth,heconceivesearthasmine,he delightsinearth.Whyisthat?Becausehehasnotcomprehendedit,Itellyou. Heperceiveswateraswater...fireasfire...windaswind1...beingsas beings...godsasgods...PajapatiasPajapati...BrahmaasBrahma...the luminousgodsasluminousgods...thegodsofrefulgentgloryasgodsof refulgentglory...thegodsofabundantfruitasthegodsofabundantfruit...the GreatBeingastheGreatBeing2...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeofspaceasthe dimensionoftheinfinitudeofspace...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeof consciousnessasthedimensionoftheinfinitudeofconsciousness...the dimensionofnothingnessasthedimensionofnothingness...thedimensionof neitherperceptionnornonperceptionasthedimensionofneitherperceptionnor nonperception3...theseenastheseen...theheardastheheard...thesensedas thesensed...thecognizedasthecognized4...singlenessassingleness... multiplicityasmultiplicity5...theAllastheAll6... HeperceivesUnbindingasUnbinding. PerceivingUnbindingas Unbinding,heconceivesthingsaboutUnbinding,heconceivesthingsin Unbinding,heconceivesthingscomingoutofUnbinding,heconceives Unbindingasmine,hedelightsinUnbinding.Whyisthat?Becausehehas notcomprehendedit,Itellyou. TheTrainee Amonkwhoisatraineeyearningfortheunexcelledrelieffrombondage, hisaspirationsasyetunfulfilleddirectlyknowsearthasearth.Directly knowingearthasearth,lethimnotconceivethingsaboutearth,lethimnot conceivethingsinearth,lethimnotconceivethingscomingoutofearth,lethim notconceiveearthasmine,lethimnotdelightinearth.Whyisthat?Sothat hemaycomprehendit,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...fireasfire...windaswind...beingsas beings...godsasgods...PajapatiasPajapati...BrahmaasBrahma...the luminousgodsasluminousgods...thegodsofrefulgentgloryasgodsof refulgentglory...thegodsofabundantfruitasthegodsofabundantfruit...the 3
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GreatBeingastheGreatBeing...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeofspaceasthe dimensionoftheinfinitudeofspace...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeof consciousnessasthedimensionoftheinfinitudeofconsciousness...the dimensionofnothingnessasthedimensionofnothingness...thedimensionof neitherperceptionnornonperceptionasthedimensionofneitherperceptionnor nonperception...theseenastheseen...theheardastheheard...thesensedas thesensed...thecognizedasthecognized...singlenessassingleness... multiplicityasmultiplicity...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,lethimnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,lethimnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,lethimnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,let himnotconceiveUnbindingasmine,lethimnotdelightinUnbinding.Why isthat?Sothathemaycomprehendit,Itellyou. TheArahant AmonkwhoisaWorthyOne,devoidofmentalfermentationswhohas attainedcompletion,finishedthetask,laiddowntheburden,attainedthetruegoal, destroyedthefettersofbecoming,andisreleasedthroughright knowledgedirectlyknowsearthasearth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoes notconceivethingsaboutearth,doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnot conceivethingscomingoutofearth,doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnot delightinearth.Whyisthat?Becausehehascomprehendedit,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...fireasfire...windaswind...beingsas beings...godsasgods...PajapatiasPajapati...BrahmaasBrahma...the luminousgodsasluminousgods...thegodsofrefulgentgloryasgodsof refulgentglory...thegodsofabundantfruitasthegodsofabundantfruit...the GreatBeingastheGreatBeing...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeofspaceasthe dimensionoftheinfinitudeofspace...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeof consciousnessasthedimensionoftheinfinitudeofconsciousness...the dimensionofnothingnessasthedimensionofnothingness...thedimensionof neitherperceptionnornonperceptionasthedimensionofneitherperceptionnor nonperception...theseenastheseen...theheardastheheard...thesensedas thesensed...thecognizedasthecognized...singlenessassingleness... multiplicityasmultiplicity...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,does 4

notconceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? Becausehehascomprehendedit,Itellyou. AmonkwhoisaWorthyOne,devoidofmentalfermentations...directly knowsearthasearth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoesnotconceive thingsaboutearth,doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnotconceivethings comingoutofearth,doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnotdelightin earth.Whyisthat?Because,withtheendingofpassion,heisdevoidofpassion,I tellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,does notconceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? Because,withtheendingofpassion,heisdevoidofpassion,Itellyou. AmonkwhoisaWorthyOne,devoidofmentalfermentations...directly knowsearthasearth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoesnotconceive thingsaboutearth,doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnotconceivethings comingoutofearth,doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnotdelightin earth.Whyisthat?Because,withtheendingofaversion,heisdevoidof aversion,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,does notconceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? Because,withtheendingofaversion,heisdevoidofaversion,Itellyou. AmonkwhoisaWorthyOne,devoidofmentalfermentations...directly knowsearthasearth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoesnotconceive thingsaboutearth,doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnotconceivethings comingoutofearth,doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnotdelightin earth.Whyisthat?Because,withtheendingofdelusion,heisdevoidof delusion,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,does

notconceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? Because,withtheendingofdelusion,heisdevoidofdelusion,Itellyou. TheTathagata TheTathagataaworthyone,rightlyselfawakeneddirectlyknowsearthas earth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutearth, doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofearth, doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnotdelightinearth.Whyisthat?Because theTathagatahascomprehendedittotheend,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...fireasfire...windaswind...beingsas beings...godsasgods...PajapatiasPajapati...BrahmaasBrahma...the luminousgodsasluminousgods...thegodsofrefulgentgloryasgodsof refulgentglory...thegodsofabundantfruitasthegodsofabundantfruit...the GreatBeingastheGreatBeing...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeofspaceasthe dimensionoftheinfinitudeofspace...thedimensionoftheinfinitudeof consciousnessasthedimensionoftheinfinitudeofconsciousness...the dimensionofnothingnessasthedimensionofnothingness...thedimensionof neitherperceptionnornonperceptionasthedimensionofneitherperceptionnor nonperception...theseenastheseen...theheardastheheard...thesensedas thesensed...thecognizedasthecognized...singlenessassingleness... multiplicityasmultiplicity...theAllastheAll... HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbinding asUnbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceive thingsinUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,does notconceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? BecausetheTathagatahascomprehendedittotheend,Itellyou. TheTathagataaworthyone,rightlyselfawakeneddirectlyknowsearth asearth.Directlyknowingearthasearth,hedoesnotconceivethingsabout earth,doesnotconceivethingsinearth,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutof earth,doesnotconceiveearthasmine,doesnotdelightinearth.Whyisthat? Becausehehasknownthatdelightistherootofsuffering&stress,thatfrom comingintobeingthereisbirth,andthatforwhathascomeintobeingthereis aging&death.Therefore,withthetotalending,fadingaway,cessation,letting go,relinquishmentofcraving,theTathagatahastotallyawakenedtothe unexcelledrightselfawakening,Itellyou. Hedirectlyknowswateraswater...theAllastheAll...

HedirectlyknowsUnbindingasUnbinding.DirectlyknowingUnbindingas Unbinding,hedoesnotconceivethingsaboutUnbinding,doesnotconceivethings inUnbinding,doesnotconceivethingscomingoutofUnbinding,doesnot conceiveUnbindingasmine,doesnotdelightinUnbinding.Whyisthat? Becausehehasknownthatdelightistherootofsuffering&stress,thatfrom comingintobeingthereisbirth,andthatforwhathascomeintobeingthereis aging&death.Therefore,withthetotalending,fadingaway,cessation,lettinggo, relinquishmentofcraving,theTathagatahastotallyawakenedtotheunexcelled rightselfawakening,Itellyou. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Displeased,themonksdidnotdelightin theBlessedOneswords. NOTES [1]Earth,water,fire,andwindarethefourpropertiesthatcomprisethe experienceofphysicalform. [2]Inthissectionofthelist,beingsdenotesalllivingbeingsbelowthelevelof thegods.Godsdenotesthebeingsinthesensualheavens.Theremaining termsPajapati,Brahma,theluminousgods,thegodsofrefulgentglory,the godsofabundantfruit,&theGreatBeingdenotegodsintheheavensofform& formlessness. [3]Thedimensionoftheinfinitudeofspace,thedimensionoftheinfinitudeof consciousness,thedimensionofnothingness,&thedimensionofneither perceptionnornonperceptionarefourformlessstatesthatcanbeattainedin concentration. [4]Theseen,theheard,thesensed,&thecognizedisasetoftermstocover allthingsexperiencedthroughthesixsenses. [5]Singleness=experienceinstatesofintenseconcentration(jhana).Multiplicity =experienceviathesixsenses. [6]WhatistheAll?Simplytheeye&forms,ear&sounds,nose&aromas, tongue&flavors,body&tactilesensations,intellect&ideas.Thisistermedthe All.Anyonewhowouldsay,RepudiatingthisAll,Iwilldescribeanother,if questionedonwhatexactlymightbethegroundsforhisassertion,wouldbe unabletoexplain,andfurthermore,wouldbeputtogrief.Whyisthat?Because

itliesbeyondrange.SNXXXV.23Formoreonthistopic,seeTheMindLike FireUnbound,Chapter1. [7]Unbinding=nibbana(nirvana). Seealso:MN140;ANIV.199;ANIV.200

AlltheFermentations SabbasavaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya2) IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewasstayingatSavatthi,in JetasGrove,Anathapindikasmonastery.Thereheaddressedthemonks: Monks! Yes,lord,themonksreplied. TheBlessedOnesaid,Monks,theendingofthefermentationsisforone whoknows&sees,Itellyou,notforonewhodoesnotknow&doesnotsee.For onewhoknowswhat&seeswhat?Appropriateattention&inappropriate attention.Whenamonkattendsinappropriately,unarisenfermentationsarise, andarisenfermentationsincrease.Whenamonkattendsappropriately,unarisen fermentationsdonotarise,andarisenfermentationsareabandoned.Thereare fermentationstobeabandonedbyseeing,thosetobeabandonedbyrestraining, thosetobeabandonedbyusing,thosetobeabandonedbytolerating,thosetobe abandonedbyavoiding,thosetobeabandonedbydestroying,andthosetobe abandonedbydeveloping. [1]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbyseeing?Thereisthe casewhereanuninstructed,runofthemillpersonwhohasnoregardfornoble ones,isnotwellversedordisciplinedintheirDhamma;whohasnoregardfor menofintegrity,isnotwellversedordisciplinedintheirDhammadoesnot discernwhatideasarefitforattentionorwhatideasareunfitforattention.This beingso,hedoesnotattendtoideasfitforattentionandattends[instead]to ideasunfitforattention. Andwhataretheideasunfitforattentionthatheattendsto?Whatever ideassuchthat,whenheattendstothem,theunarisenfermentationofsensuality arisesinhim,andthearisenfermentationofsensualityincreases;theunarisen fermentationofbecomingarisesinhim,andthearisenfermentationofbecoming increases;theunarisenfermentationofignorancearisesinhim,andthearisen fermentationofignoranceincreases.Thesearetheideasunfitforattentionthat heattendsto. Andwhataretheideasfitforattentionthathedoesnotattendto? Whateverideassuchthat,whenheattendstothem,theunarisenfermentationof sensualitydoesnotariseinhim,andthearisenfermentationofsensualityis abandoned;theunarisenfermentationofbecomingdoesnotariseinhim,andthe 9

arisenfermentationofbecomingisabandoned;theunarisenfermentationof ignorancedoesnotariseinhim,andthearisenfermentationofignoranceis abandoned.Thesearetheideasfitforattentionthathedoesnotattendto. Throughhisattendingtoideasunfitforattentionandthroughhisnotattending toideasfitforattention,bothunarisenfermentationsariseinhim,andarisen fermentationsincrease. Thisishowheattendsinappropriately:WasIinthepast?WasInotinthe past?WhatwasIinthepast?HowwasIinthepast?Havingbeenwhat,what wasIinthepast?ShallIbeinthefuture?ShallInotbeinthefuture?WhatshallI beinthefuture?HowshallIbeinthefuture?Havingbeenwhat,whatshallIbe inthefuture?Orelseheisinwardlyperplexedabouttheimmediatepresent: AmI?AmInot?WhatamI?HowamI?Wherehasthisbeingcomefrom? Whereisitbound? Asheattendsinappropriatelyinthisway,oneofsixkindsofviewarisesin him:TheviewIhaveaselfarisesinhimastrue&established,ortheviewIhave noself...ortheviewItispreciselybymeansofselfthatIperceiveself...ortheviewIt ispreciselybymeansofselfthatIperceivenotself...ortheviewItispreciselyby meansofnotselfthatIperceiveselfarisesinhimastrue&established,orelsehe hasaviewlikethis:Thisveryselfofminetheknowerthatissensitivehere&thereto theripeningofgood&badactionsistheselfofminethatisconstant,everlasting, eternal,notsubjecttochange,andwillendureaslongaseternity.Thisiscalleda thicketofviews,awildernessofviews,acontortionofviews,awrithingof views,afetterofviews.Boundbyafetterofviews,theuninstructedrunofthe millpersonisnotfreedfrombirth,aging,&death,fromsorrow,lamentation, pain,distress,&despair.Heisnotfreed,Itellyou,fromsuffering&stress. Thewellinstructeddiscipleofthenobleoneswhohasregardfornoble ones,iswellversed&disciplinedintheirDhamma;whohasregardformenof integrity,iswellversed&disciplinedintheirDhammadiscernswhatideasare fitforattentionandwhatideasareunfitforattention.Thisbeingso,hedoesnot attendtoideasunfitforattentionandattends[instead]toideasfitforattention. Andwhataretheideasunfitforattentionthathedoesnotattendto? Whateverideassuchthat,whenheattendstothem,theunarisenfermentationof sensualityarisesinhim,andthearisenfermentationofsensualityincreases;the unarisenfermentationofbecomingarisesinhim,andthearisenfermentationof becomingincreases;theunarisenfermentationofignorancearisesinhim,and thearisenfermentationofignoranceincreases.Thesearetheideasunfitfor attentionthathedoesnotattendto. 10

Andwhataretheideasfitforattentionthathedoesattendto?Whatever ideassuchthat,whenheattendstothem,theunarisenfermentationofsensuality doesnotariseinhim,andthearisenfermentationofsensualityisabandoned;the unarisenfermentationofbecomingdoesnotariseinhim,andthearisen fermentationofbecomingisabandoned;theunarisenfermentationofignorance doesnotariseinhim,andthearisenfermentationofignoranceisabandoned. Thesearetheideasfitforattentionthathedoesattendto.Throughhisnot attendingtoideasunfitforattentionandthroughhisattendingtoideasfitfor attention,unarisenfermentationsdonotariseinhim,andarisenfermentations areabandoned. Heattendsappropriately,Thisisstress...Thisistheoriginationofstress...This isthecessationofstress...Thisisthewayleadingtothecessationofstress.Ashe attendsappropriatelyinthisway,threefettersareabandonedinhim:identity view,doubt,andgraspingatprecepts&practices.Thesearecalledthe fermentationstobeabandonedbyseeing. [2]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbyrestraining?There isthecasewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,dwellsrestrainedwiththe restraintoftheeyefaculty.Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthatwouldarise ifheweretodwellunrestrainedwiththerestraintoftheeyefacultydonotarise forhimwhenhedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintoftheeyefaculty. Reflectingappropriately,hedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintoftheear faculty. Reflectingappropriately,hedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintofthenose faculty. Reflectingappropriately,hedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintofthe tonguefaculty. Reflectingappropriately,hedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintofthebody faculty. Reflectingappropriately,hedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintofthe intellectfaculty.Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthatwouldariseifhewere todwellunrestrainedwiththerestraintoftheintellectfacultydonotarisefor himwhenhedwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintoftheintellectfaculty.These arecalledthefermentationstobeabandonedbyrestraining. [3]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbyusing?Thereisthe casewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,usestherobesimplytocounteract cold,tocounteractheat,tocounteractthetouchofflies,mosquitoes,wind,sun,&

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reptiles;simplyforthepurposeofcoveringthepartsofthebodythatcause shame. Reflectingappropriately,heusesalmsfood,notplayfully,norfor intoxication,norforputtingonbulk,norforbeautification;butsimplyforthe survival&continuanceofthisbody,forendingitsafflictions,forthesupportof theholylife,thinking,ThuswillIdestroyoldfeelings[ofhunger]andnot createnewfeelings[fromovereating].Iwillmaintainmyself,beblameless,&live incomfort. Reflectingappropriately,heuseslodgingsimplytocounteractcold,to counteractheat,tocounteractthetouchofflies,mosquitoes,wind,sun,& reptiles;simplyforprotectionfromtheinclemenciesofweatherandforthe enjoymentofseclusion. Reflectingappropriately,heusesmedicinalrequisitesthatareusedfor curingthesicksimplytocounteractanypainsofillnessthathavearisenandfor maximumfreedomfromdisease. Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthatwouldariseifhewerenottouse thesethings[inthisway]donotariseforhimwhenheusesthem[inthisway]. Thesearecalledthefermentationstobeabandonedbyusing. [4]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbytolerating?Thereis thecasewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,endures.Hetoleratescold,heat, hunger,&thirst;thetouchofflies,mosquitoes,wind,sun,&reptiles;illspoken, unwelcomewords&bodilyfeelingsthat,whentheyarise,arepainful,racking, sharp,piercing,disagreeable,displeasing,&menacingtolife.Thefermentations, vexation,orfeverthatwouldariseifhewerenottotoleratethesethingsdonot ariseforhimwhenhetoleratesthem.Thesearecalledthefermentationstobe abandonedbytolerating. [5]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbyavoiding?Thereis thecasewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,avoidsawildelephant,awild horse,awildbull,awilddog,asnake,astump,abramblepatch,achasm,acliff, acesspool,anopensewer.Reflectingappropriately,heavoidssittinginthesorts ofunsuitableseats,wanderingtothesortsofunsuitablehabitats,andassociating withthesortsofbadfriendsthatwouldmakehisknowledgeablefriendsinthe holylifesuspecthimofevilconduct.Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthat wouldariseifhewerenottoavoidthesethingsdonotariseforhimwhenhe avoidsthem.Thesearecalledthefermentationstobeabandonedbyavoiding. [6]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbydestroying?There isthecasewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,doesnottolerateanarisen 12

thoughtofsensuality.Heabandonsit,destroysit,dispelsit,&wipesitoutof existence. Reflectingappropriately,hedoesnottolerateanarisenthoughtofillwill... Reflectingappropriately,hedoesnottolerateanarisenthoughtofcruelty... Reflectingappropriately,hedoesnottoleratearisenevil,unskillfulmental qualities.Heabandonsthem,destroysthem,dispelsthem,&wipesthemoutof existence.Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthatwouldariseifhewerenotto destroythesethingsdonotariseforhimwhenhedestroysthem.Theseare calledthefermentationstobeabandonedbydestroying. [7]Andwhatarethefermentationstobeabandonedbydeveloping?There isthecasewhereamonk,reflectingappropriately,developsmindfulnessasa factorforawakeningdependentonseclusion...dispassion...cessation,resulting inlettinggo.Hedevelopsanalysisofqualitiesasafactorforawakening... persistenceasafactorforawakening...raptureasafactorforawakening...serenity asafactorforawakening...concentrationasafactorforawakening...equanimity asafactorforawakeningdependentonseclusion...dispassion...cessation, resultinginlettinggo.Thefermentations,vexation,orfeverthatwouldariseifhe werenottodevelopthesequalitiesdonotariseforhimwhenhedevelopsthem. Thesearecalledthefermentationstobeabandonedbydeveloping. Whenamonksfermentationsthatshouldbeabandonedbyseeinghave beenabandonedbyseeing,hisfermentationsthatshouldbeabandonedby restraininghavebeenabandonedbyrestraining,hisfermentationsthatshouldbe abandonedbyusinghavebeenabandonedbyusing,hisfermentationsthat shouldbeabandonedbytoleratinghavebeenabandonedbytolerating,his fermentationsthatshouldbeabandonedbyavoidinghavebeenabandonedby avoiding,hisfermentationsthatshouldbeabandonedbydestroyinghavebeen abandonedbydestroying,hisfermentationsthatshouldbeabandonedby developinghavebeenabandonedbydeveloping,thenheiscalledamonkwho dwellsrestrainedwiththerestraintofallthefermentations.Hehassevered craving,thrownoffthefetters,andthroughtherightpenetrationof conceithasmadeanendofsuffering&stress. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Gratified,themonksdelightedinthe BlessedOneswords.

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Fear&Terror BhayabheravaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya4) IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewasstayingnearSavatthiat JetasGrove,Anathapindikasmonastery.ThenJanussonithebrahmanwentto theBlessedOneand,onarrival,exchangedcourteousgreetingswithhim.After anexchangeoffriendlygreetings&courtesies,hesattooneside.Ashewas sittingthere,hesaidtotheBlessedOne,MasterGotama,thesonsofgood familieswhohavegoneforthfromthehomelifeintohomelessnessoutof convictioninMasterGotama:isMasterGotamatheirleader?IsMasterGotama theirhelper?IsMasterGotamatheirinspirer?DotheytakeMasterGotamaas theirexample? Yes,brahman,soitis.Thesonsofgoodfamilieswhohavegoneforthfrom thehomelifeintohomelessnessoutofconvictioninme:Iamtheirleader.Iam theirhelper.Iamtheirinspirer.Theytakemeastheirexample. But,MasterGotama,itsnoteasytoendureisolatedforestorwilderness dwellings.Itsnoteasytomaintainseclusion,noteasytoenjoybeingalone.The forests,asitwere,plunderthemindofamonkwhohasnotattained concentration. Yes,brahman,soitis.Itsnoteasytoendureisolatedforestorwilderness dwellings.Itsnoteasytomaintainseclusion,noteasytoenjoybeingalone.The forests,asitwere,plunderthemindofamonkwhohasnotattained concentration.Beforemyawakening,whenIwasstillanunawakened Bodhisatta,thethoughtoccurredtomeaswell:Itsnoteasytomaintain seclusion,noteasytoenjoybeingalone.Theforests,asitwere,plunderthemind ofamonkwhohasnotattainedconcentration. Thethoughtoccurredtome:Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoare unpurifiedintheirbodilyactivitiesresorttoisolatedforestorwilderness dwellings,itsthefaultoftheirunpurifiedbodilyactivitiesthattheygiveriseto unskillfulfear&terror.ButitsnotthecasethatIamunpurifiedinmybodily activitieswhenIresorttoisolatedforestorwildernessdwellings.Iampurifiedin mybodilyactivities.Iamoneofthosenobleoneswhoarepurifiedintheir bodilyactivitieswhentheyresorttoisolatedforestorwildernessdwellings. Seeinginmyselfthispurityofbodilyactivities,Ifeltevenmoreundauntedabout stayinginthewilderness. 14

Thethoughtoccurredtome:Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoare unpurifiedintheirverbalactivities...unpurifiedintheirmentalactivities... unpurifiedintheirlivelihoodresorttoisolatedforestorwildernessdwellings, itsthefaultoftheirunpurifiedlivelihoodthattheygiverisetounskillfulfear& terror.ButitsnotthecasethatIamunpurifiedinmylivelihoodwhenIresort toisolatedforestorwildernessdwellings.Iampurifiedinmylivelihood.Iam oneofthosenobleoneswhoarepurifiedintheirlivelihoodwhentheyresortto isolatedforestorwildernessdwellings.Seeinginmyselfthispurityof livelihood,Ifeltevenmoreundauntedaboutstayinginthewilderness. Thethoughtoccurredtome:Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoare covetous&fiercelypassionateforsensualpleasures...Iamnotcovetous....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhohavemindsofillwill,with destructiveattitudes...Ihaveamindofgoodwill....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoareovercomebysloth& drowsiness...Iamdevoidofsloth&drowsiness....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoarerestless&withanunstilled mind...Ihaveastilledmind....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoareuncertain&doubting...Ihave gonebeyonduncertainty....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhotendtopraisethemselves& disparageothers...Idonotpraisemyselfordisparageothers....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhotendtowardpanic&dread...I havegonebeyondhorripilation....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoaredesirousofgains,offerings,& fame...Iammodest....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoarelazy&lackingin persistence...Mypersistenceisaroused....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoaremuddledintheirmindfulness &unalert...Ihavemindfulnessestablished....... ...Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoareunconcentrated,withstraying minds...Iamconsummateinconcentration....... Thethoughtoccurredtome:Whenpriestsorcontemplativeswhoare droolingidiotsresorttoisolatedforestorwildernessdwellings,itsthefaultof theirdroolingidiocythattheygiverisetounskillfulfear&terror.Butitsnot thecasethatIamadroolingidiotwhenIresorttoisolatedforestorwilderness dwellings.Iamconsummateindiscernment.Iamoneofthosenobleoneswho areconsummateindiscernmentwhentheyresorttoisolatedforestorwilderness 15

dwellings.Seeinginmyselfthisconsummatediscernment,Ifeltevenmore undauntedaboutstayinginthewilderness. Thethoughtoccurredtome:Whatifonrecognized,designatednights suchastheeighth,fourteenth,&fifteenthofthelunarfortnightIweretostayin thesortofplacesthatareaweinspiringandmakeyourhairstandonend,such asparkshrines,forestshrines,&treeshrines?PerhapsIwouldgettoseethat fear&terror.Soatalatertimeonrecognized,designatednightssuchasthe eighth,fourteenth,&fifteenthofthelunarfortnightIstayedinthesortofplaces thatareaweinspiringandmakeyourhairstandonend,suchasparkshrines, forestshrines,&treeshrines.AndwhileIwasstayingthereawildanimalwould come,orabirdwoulddropatwig,orwindwouldrustlethefallenleaves.The thoughtwouldoccurtome:Isthisthatfear&terrorcoming?Thenthe thoughtoccurredtome:WhydoIjustkeepwaitingforfear?WhatifIwereto subduefear&terrorinwhateverstatetheycome?Sowhenfear&terrorcame whileIwaswalkingback&forth,Iwouldnotstandorsitorliedown.Iwould keepwalkingback&forthuntilIhadsubduedthatfear&terror.Whenfear& terrorcamewhileIwasstanding,Iwouldnotwalkorsitorliedown.Iwould keepstandinguntilIhadsubduedthatfear&terror.Whenfear&terrorcame whileIwassitting,Iwouldnotliedownorstanduporwalk.Iwouldkeep sittinguntilIhadsubduedthatfear&terror.Whenfear&terrorcamewhileI waslyingdown,Iwouldnotsituporstandorwalk.Iwouldkeeplyingdown untilIhadsubduedthatfear&terror. Therearesomepriests&contemplatives,brahman,whohavethe perceptionofdaywhenitisnight,andofnightwhenitisday.This,Itell you,istheirbeinginadwellingofdelusion.Asforme,Ihavetheperceptionof daywhenitisday,andofnightwhenitisnight.Ifanyone,when speakingrightly,weretosay,Abeingnotsubjecttodelusionhasappearedin theworldforthebenefit&happinessofmany,outofsympathyfortheworld, forthewelfare,benefit,&happinessofhuman&divinebeings,hewould rightlybespeakingofme. Unflaggingpersistencewasarousedinme,andunmuddledmindfulness established.Mybodywascalm&unaroused,mymindconcentrated&single. Quitewithdrawnfromsensuality,withdrawnfromunskillfulmentalqualities,I entered&remainedinthefirstjhana:rapture&pleasurebornfromwithdrawal, accompaniedbydirectedthought&evaluation.Withthestillingofdirected thought&evaluation,Ientered&remainedinthesecondjhana:rapture& pleasurebornofcomposure,unificationofawarenessfreefromdirectedthought 16

&evaluationinternalassurance.WiththefadingofraptureIremainedin equanimity,mindful&alert,andphysicallysensitiveofpleasure.Ientered& remainedinthethirdjhana,ofwhichthenobleonesdeclare,Equanimous& mindful,hehasapleasurableabiding.Withtheabandoningofpleasure& painaswiththeearlierdisappearanceofelation&distressIentered& remainedinthefourthjhana:purityofequanimity&mindfulness,neither pleasurenorpain. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeofrecollectingmypastlives.Irecollectedmymanifoldpastlives, i.e.,onebirth,two...five,ten...fifty,ahundred,athousand,ahundred thousand,manyeonsofcosmiccontraction,manyeonsofcosmicexpansion, manyeonsofcosmiccontraction&expansion:ThereIhadsuchaname, belongedtosuchaclan,hadsuchanappearance.Suchwasmyfood,suchmy experienceofpleasure&pain,suchtheendofmylife.Passingawayfromthat state,Irearosethere.TheretooIhadsuchaname,belongedtosuchaclan,had suchanappearance.Suchwasmyfood,suchmyexperienceofpleasure&pain, suchtheendofmylife.Passingawayfromthatstate,Irearosehere.ThusI recollectedmymanifoldpastlivesintheirmodes&details. ThiswasthefirstknowledgeIattainedinthefirstwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;lightarose ashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeofthepassingaway&reappearanceofbeings.Isawbymeansof thedivineeye,purified&surpassingthehumanbeingspassingaway&re appearing,andIdiscernedhowtheyareinferior&superior,beautiful&ugly, fortunate&unfortunateinaccordancewiththeirkamma:Thesebeingswho wereendowedwithbadconductofbody,speech&mind,whorevilednoble ones,heldwrongviewsandundertookactionsundertheinfluenceofwrong viewswiththebreakupofthebody,afterdeath,havereappearedintheplane ofdeprivation,thebaddestination,thelowerrealms,inhell.Butthese beingswhowereendowedwithgoodconductofbody,speech,&mind,who didnotrevilenobleones,whoheldrightviewsandundertookactionsunderthe influenceofrightviewswiththebreakupofthebody,afterdeath,havere appearedinthegooddestinations,intheheavenlyworld.Thusbymeansof thedivineeye,purified&surpassingthehumanIsawbeingspassingaway& 17

reappearing,andIdiscernedhowtheyareinferior&superior,beautiful&ugly, fortunate&unfortunateinaccordancewiththeirkamma. ThiswasthesecondknowledgeIattainedinthesecondwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;light aroseashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeoftheendingofthementalfermentations.Idiscerned,asitwas actuallypresent,thatThisisstress...Thisistheoriginationofstress...Thisisthe cessationofstress...Thisisthewayleadingtothecessationofstress...Theseare fermentations...Thisistheoriginationoffermentations...Thisisthecessationof fermentations...Thisisthewayleadingtothecessationoffermentations.My heart,thusknowing,thusseeing,wasreleasedfromthefermentationof sensuality,releasedfromthefermentationofbecoming,releasedfromthe fermentationofignorance.Withrelease,therewastheknowledge,Released.I discernedthatBirthisended,theholylifefulfilled,thetaskdone.Thereis nothingfurtherforthisworld. ThiswasthethirdknowledgeIattainedinthethirdwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;light aroseashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Now,brahman,ifthethoughtshouldoccurtoyou,PerhapsGotamathe contemplativeiseventodaynotfreeofpassion,notfreeofaversion,notfreeof delusion,whichiswhyheresortstoisolatedforest&wildernessdwellings,it shouldnotbeseeninthatway.Itsthroughseeingtwocompellingreasonsthat Iresorttoisolatedforest&wildernessdwellings:seeingapleasantabidingfor myselfinthepresent,andfeelingsympathyforfuturegenerations. HowtrulyfuturegenerationshavebeenshownsympathybyMaster Gotama,asbyonewhoisworthy&rightlyselfawakened!Magnificent,Master Gotama!Magnificent!Justasifheweretoplaceuprightwasoverturned,to revealwhatwashidden,toshowthewaytoonewhowaslost,ortocarryalamp intothedarksothatthosewitheyescouldseeforms,inthesamewayhasMaster GotamathroughmanylinesofreasoningmadetheDhammaclear.Igoto MasterGotamaforrefuge,totheDhamma,andtotheSanghaofmonks.May MasterGotamaremembermeasalayfollowerwhohasgonetohimforrefuge, fromthisdayforward,forlife.

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TheBallofHoney MadhupindikaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya18) INTRODUCTION ThisdiscourseplaysacentralroleintheearlyBuddhistanalysisofconflict.Asmight beexpected,theblameforconflictlieswithin,intheunskillfulhabitsofthemind,rather thanwithout.Theculpritinthiscaseisahabitcalledpapaca.Unfortunately,noneof theearlytextsgiveacleardefinitionofwhatthewordpapacameans,soitshardto findapreciseEnglishequivalentfortheterm.However,theydogiveaclearanalysisof howpapacaarises,howitleadstoconflict,andhowitcanbeended.Inthefinal analysis,thesearethequestionsthatmattermorethantheprecisedefinitionof termssowewilldealwiththemfirstbeforeproposingafewpossibletranslation equivalentsfortheword. ThreepassagesinthediscoursesDN21,MN18,andSnIV.11mapthecausal processesthatgiverisetopapacaandleadfrompapacatoconflict.Becausethe Buddhistanalysisofcausalityisgenerallynonlinear,withplentyofroomforfeedback loops,themapsvaryinsomeoftheirdetails.InDN21,themapreadslikethis: theperceptions&categoriesofpapaca>thinking>desire>dear&notdear> envy&stinginess>rivalry&hostility InSnIV.11,themapislesslinearandcanbediagramedlikethis: perception>thecategoriesofpapaca perception>name&form>contact>appealing&unappealing>desire>dear& notdear>stinginess/divisiveness/quarrels/disputes InMN18,themapisthis: contact>feeling>perception>thinking>theperceptions&categoriesofpapaca Inthislastcase,however,thebareoutlinemissessomeoftheimportantimplications ofthewaythisprocessisphrased.Inthefullpassage,theanalysisstartsoutinan impersonaltone: Dependentoneye&forms,eyeconsciousnessarises[similarlywiththerest ofthesixsense].Themeetingofthethreeiscontact.Withcontactasa requisitecondition,thereisfeeling. 19

Startingwithfeeling,thenotionofanagentinthiscase,thefeeleractingon objects,isintroduced: Whatonefeels,oneperceives(labelsinthemind).Whatoneperceives,one thinksabout.Whatonethinksabout,onepapacizes. Throughtheprocessofpapaca,theagentthenbecomesavictimofhis/herown patternsofthinking: Basedonwhatapersonpapacizes,theperceptions&categoriesofpapaca assailhim/herwithregardtopast,present,&futureformscognizableviathe eye[aswiththeremainingsenses]. Whataretheseperceptions&categoriesthatassailthepersonwhopapacizes?Sn IV.14statesthattherootofthecategoriesofpapacaistheperception,Iamthe thinker.Fromthisselfreflexivethoughtinwhichoneconceivesaself,athing correspondingtotheconceptofIanumberofcategoriescanbederived:being/not being,me/notme,mine/notmine,doer/doneto,signifier/signified.Onceonesself becomesathingundertherubricofthesecategories,itsimpossiblenottobeassailedby theperceptions&categoriesderivedfromthesebasicdistinctions.Whentheresthe senseofidentificationwithsomethingthatexperiences,thenbasedonthefeelingsarising fromsensorycontact,somefeelingswillseemappealingworthgettingfortheselfand otherswillseemunappealingworthpushingaway.Fromthistheregrowsdesire,which comesintoconflictwiththedesiresofotherswhoarealsoengaginginpapaca.Thisis howinnercomplicationsbreedexternalcontention. Howcanthisprocessbeended?Throughashiftinperception,causedbythewayone attendstofeelings,usingthecategoriesofappropriateattention[seeMN2].Asthe BuddhastatesinDN21,ratherthanviewingafeelingasanappealingorunappealing thing,oneshouldlookatitaspartofacausalprocess:whenaparticularfeelingis pursued,doskillfulorunskillfulqualitiesincreaseinthemind?Ifskillfulqualities increase,thefeelingmaybepursued.Ifunskillfulqualitiesincrease,itshouldnt.When comparingfeelingsthatleadtoskillfulqualities,noticewhicharemorerefined:thosefree ofthinking(directedthought)andevaluation,asinthehigherstagesofmental absorption,orjhana.Whenseeingthis,thereisatendencytooptforthemorerefined feelings,andthiscutsthroughtheactofthinkingthat,accordingtoMN18,providesthe basisforpapaca. Infollowingthisprogram,thenotionofagentandvictimisavoided,asisself reflexivethinkingingeneral.Thereissimplytheanalysisofcauseeffectprocesses.One isstillmakinguseofdualitiesdistinguishingbetweenunskillfulandskillful(and

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affliction/lackofaffliction,theresultsofunskillfulandskillfulqualities)butthe distinctionisbetweenprocesses,notthings.Thusonesanalysisavoidsthetypeof thinkingthat,accordingtoDN21,dependsontheperceptionsandcategoriesofpapaca, andinthiswaytheviciouscyclebywhichthinkingandpapacakeepfeedingeachother iscut. Ultimately,byfollowingthisprogramtogreaterandgreaterlevelsofrefinement throughthehigherlevelsofmentalabsorption,onefindslessandlesstorelishandenjoy inthesixsensesandthementalprocessesbasedonthem.Withthissenseof disenchantment,theprocessesoffeelingandthoughtarestilled,andthereisa breakthroughtothecessationofthesixsensespheres.Whenthesespherescease,isthere anythingelseleft?Ven.Sariputta,inANIV.173warnsusnottoask,fortoaskifthere is,isnt,bothisandisnt,neitherisnorisntanythingleftinthatdimensionisto papacizewhatisfreefrompapaca.However,thisdimensionisnotatotalannihilation ofexperience.ItsatypeofexperiencethatDN11callsconsciousnesswithoutfeature, luminousallaround,wherewater,earth,fire,&windhavenofooting,wherelong/short, coarse/fine,fair/foul,name/formareallbroughttoanend.Thisisthefruitofthepathof arahantshipapaththatmakesuseofdualitiesbutleadstoafruitbeyondthem. Itmaycomeascoldcomforttorealizethatconflictcanbetotallyovercomeonlywith therealizationofarahantship,butitsimportanttonotethatbyfollowingthepath recommendedinDN21learningtoavoidreferencestoanynotionofselfand learningtoviewfeelingsnotasthingsbutaspartsofacausalprocessaffectingthe qualitiesinthemindthebasisforpapacaisgraduallyundercut,andtherearefewer andfeweroccasionsforconflict.Infollowingthispath,onereapsitsincreasingbenefits allalongtheway. Translatingpapaca:Asonewriterhasnoted,thewordpapacahashadawide varietyofmeaningsinIndianthought,withonlyoneconstant:inBuddhistphilosophical discourseitcarriesnegativeconnotations,usuallyoffalsificationanddistortion.The worditselfisderivedfromarootthatmeansdiffuseness,spreading,proliferating.The PaliCommentariesdefinepapacaascoveringthreetypesofthought:craving,conceit, andviews.Theyalsonotethatitfunctionstoslowtheminddowninitsescapefrom samsara.And,asouranalysishasshown,itfunctionstocreatebanefuldistinctionsand unnecessaryissues.Forthesereasons,Ihavechosentorenderthewordas complication,althoughsomeofthefollowingalternativesmightbeacceptableaswell: selfreflexivethinking,reification,proliferation,exaggeration,elaboration,distortion. Thewordofferssomeinterestingparallelstothepostmodernnotionoflogocentric

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thinking,butitsimportanttonotethattheBuddhasprogramofdeconstructingthis processdifferssharplyfromthatofpostmodernthought.

IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewaslivingamongtheSakyans nearKapilavatthuintheBanyanPark.Thenintheearlymorning,havingputon hisrobesandcarryinghisbowl&outerrobe,hewentintoKapilavatthuforalms. HavinggoneforalmsinKapilavatthu,afterthemeal,returningfromhisalms round,hewenttotheGreatWoodforthedaysabiding.Plungingintothe GreatWood,hesatdownattherootofabilvasaplingforthedaysabiding. Dandapani(Stickinhand)theSakyan,outroaming&ramblingfor exercise,alsowenttotheGreatWood.PlungingintotheGreatWood,hewentto wheretheBlessedOnewasunderthebilvasapling.Onarrival,heexchanged courteousgreetingswithhim.Afteranexchangeoffriendlygreetings& courtesies,hestoodtooneside.Ashewasstandingthere,hesaidtotheBlessed One,Whatisthecontemplativesdoctrine?Whatdoesheproclaim? Thesortofdoctrine,friend,whereonedoesnotkeepquarrelingwith anyoneinthecosmoswithitsdeities,Maras,&Brahmas,withitscontemplatives &priests,itsroyalty&commonfolk;thesort[ofdoctrine]whereperceptionsno longerobsessthebrahmanwhoremainsdissociatedfromsensualpleasures,free fromperplexity,hisuncertaintycutaway,devoidofcravingforbecoming& non.Suchismydoctrine,suchiswhatIproclaim. Whenthiswassaid,DandapanitheSakyanshakinghishead,wagginghis tongue,raisinghiseyebrowssothathisforeheadwaswrinkledinthree furrowsleft,leaningonhisstick. Then,whenitwasevening,theBlessedOnerosefromhisseclusionandwent totheBanyanPark.Onarrival,hesatdownonaseatmadeready.Ashewas sittingthere,he[toldthemonkswhathadhappened].Whenthiswassaid,a certainmonksaidtotheBlessedOne,Lord,whatsortofdoctrineisitwhere onedoesnotkeepquarrelingwithanyoneinthecosmoswithitsdeities,Maras, &Brahmas,withitscontemplatives&priests,itsroyalty&commonfolk;where perceptionsnolongerobsessthebrahmanwhoremainsdissociatedfromsensual pleasures,freefromperplexity,hisuncertaintycutaway,devoidofcravingfor becoming&non? If,monk,withregardtothecausewherebytheperceptions&categoriesof complicationassailaperson,thereisnothingtheretorelish,welcome,orremain fastenedto,thenthatistheendoftheobsessionsofpassion,theobsessionsof 22

resistance,theobsessionsofviews,theobsessionsofuncertainty,theobsessions ofconceit,theobsessionsofpassionforbecoming,&theobsessionsofignorance. Thatistheendoftakinguprods&bladedweapons,ofarguments,quarrels, disputes,accusations,divisivetalebearing,&falsespeech.Thatiswherethese evil,unskillfulthingsceasewithoutremainder.ThatiswhattheBlessedOne said.Havingsaidit,theOneWellgonegotupfromhisseatandwentintohis dwelling. Then,notlongaftertheBlessedOnehadleft,thisthoughtoccurredtothe monks:ThisbriefstatementtheBlessedOnemade,afterwhichhewentintohis dwellingwithoutanalyzingthedetailedmeaningi.e.,If,withregardtothe causewherebytheperceptions&categoriesofcomplicationassailaperson,there isnothingtorelishthatiswheretheseevil,unskillfulthingsceasewithout remainder:nowwhomightanalyzetheunanalyzeddetailedmeaningofthis briefstatement?Thenthethoughtoccurredtothem,Ven.MahaKaccayanais praisedbytheTeacherandesteemedbyhisknowledgeablecompanionsinthe holylife.Heiscapableofanalyzingtheunanalyzeddetailedmeaningofthis briefstatement.Supposeweweretogotohimand,onarrival,questionhim aboutthismatter. SothemonkswenttoVen.MahaKaccayanaand,onarrival,exchanged courteousgreetingswithhim.Afteranexchangeoffriendlygreetings& courtesies,theysattooneside.Astheyweresittingthere,they[toldhimwhat hadhappened,andadded,]Analyzethemeaning,Ven.MahaKaccayana! [Hereplied:]Friends,itsasifamanneedingheartwood,lookingfor heartwood,wanderinginsearchofheartwoodpassingovertheroot&trunkof astandingtreepossessingheartwoodweretoimaginethatheartwoodshould besoughtamongitsbranches&leaves.Soitiswithyou,whohavingbypassed theBlessedOnewhenyouwerefacetofacewithhim,theTeacherimaginethat Ishouldbeaskedaboutthismatter.Forknowing,theBlessedOneknows; seeing,hesees.HeistheEye,heisKnowledge,heisDhamma,heisBrahma.He isthespeaker,theproclaimer,theelucidatorofmeaning,thegiverofthe Deathless,thelordoftheDhamma,theTathagata.Thatwasthetimewhenyou shouldhavequestionedhimaboutthismatter.Howeverheanswered,thatwas howyoushouldhaverememberedit. Yes,friendKaccayana:knowing,theBlessedOneknows;seeing,hesees.He istheEye,heisKnowledge,heisDhamma,heisBrahma.Heisthespeaker,the proclaimer,theelucidatorofmeaning,thegiveroftheDeathless,thelordofthe Dhamma,theTathagata.Thatwasthetimewhenweshouldhavequestioned 23

himaboutthismatter.Howeverheanswered,thatwashowweshouldhave rememberedit.ButyouarepraisedbytheTeacherandesteemedbyyour knowledgeablecompanionsintheholylife.Youarecapableofanalyzingthe unanalyzeddetailedmeaningofthisbriefstatement.Analyzethemeaning,Ven. MahaKaccayana! Inthatcase,myfriends,listen&paycloseattention.Iwillspeak. Asyousay,friend,themonksresponded. Ven.MahaKaccayanasaidthis:ConcerningthebriefstatementtheBlessed Onemade,afterwhichhewentintohisdwellingwithoutanalyzingthedetailed meaningi.e.,If,withregardtothecausewherebytheperceptions& categoriesofcomplicationassailaperson,thereisnothingtheretorelish, welcome,orremainfastenedto,thenthatistheendoftheobsessionsofpassion, theobsessionsofresistance,theobsessionsofviews,theobsessionsof uncertainty,theobsessionsofconceit,theobsessionsofpassionforbecoming,& theobsessionsofignorance.Thatistheendoftakinguprods&bladedweapons, ofarguments,quarrels,disputes,accusations,divisivetalebearing,&false speech.Thatiswheretheseevil,unskillfulthingsceasewithoutremainderI understandthedetailedmeaningtobethis: Dependentoneye&forms,eyeconsciousnessarises.Themeetingofthe threeiscontact.Withcontactasarequisitecondition,thereisfeeling.Whatone feels,oneperceives(labelsinthemind).Whatoneperceives,onethinksabout. Whatonethinksabout,onecomplicates.Basedonwhatapersoncomplicates, theperceptions&categoriesofcomplicationassailhim/herwithregardtopast, present,&futureformscognizableviatheeye. Dependentonear&sounds,earconsciousnessarises.... Dependentonnose&aromas,noseconsciousnessarises.... Dependentontongue&flavors,tongueconsciousnessarises.... Dependentonbody&tactilesensations,bodyconsciousnessarises.... Dependentonintellect&ideas,intellectconsciousnessarises.Themeeting ofthethreeiscontact.Withcontactasarequisitecondition,thereisfeeling.What onefeels,oneperceives(labelsinthemind).Whatoneperceives,onethinks about.Whatonethinksabout,onecomplicates.Basedonwhataperson complicates,theperceptions&categoriesofcomplicationassailhim/herwith regardtopast,present,&futureideascognizableviatheintellect.

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Now,whenthereistheeye,whenthereareforms,whenthereiseye consciousness,itispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofcontact[1]. Whenthereisadelineationofcontact,itispossiblethatonewilldelineatea delineationoffeeling.Whenthereisadelineationoffeeling,itispossiblethat onewilldelineateadelineationofperception.Whenthereisadelineationof perception,itispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofthinking.When thereisadelineationofthinking,itispossiblethatonewilldelineatea delineationofbeingassailedbytheperceptions&categoriesofcomplication. Whenthereistheear. Whenthereisthenose. Whenthereisthetongue. Whenthereisthebody. Whenthereistheintellect,whenthereareideas,whenthereisintellect consciousness,itispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofcontact.When thereisadelineationofcontact,itispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineation offeeling.Whenthereisadelineationoffeeling,itispossiblethatonewill delineateadelineationofperception.Whenthereisadelineationofperception,it ispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofthinking.Whenthereisa delineationofthinking,itispossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofbeing assailedbytheperceptions&categoriesofcomplication. Now,whenthereisnoeye,whentherearenoforms,whenthereisnoeye consciousness,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofcontact. Whenthereisnodelineationofcontact,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineatea delineationoffeeling.Whenthereisnodelineationoffeeling,itisimpossible thatonewilldelineateadelineationofperception.Whenthereisnodelineation ofperception,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofthinking. Whenthereisnodelineationofthinking,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineatea delineationofbeingassailedbytheperceptions&categoriesofcomplication. Whenthereisnoear. Whenthereisnonose. Whenthereisnotongue. Whenthereisnobody.

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Whenthereisnointellect,whentherearenoideas,whenthereisno intellectconsciousness,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationof contact.Whenthereisnodelineationofcontact,itisimpossiblethatonewill delineateadelineationoffeeling.Whenthereisnodelineationoffeeling,itis impossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationofperception.Whenthereisno delineationofperception,itisimpossiblethatonewilldelineateadelineationof thinking.Whenthereisnodelineationofthinking,itisimpossiblethatonewill delineateadelineationofbeingassailedbytheperceptions&categoriesof complication. So,concerningthebriefstatementtheBlessedOnemade,afterwhichhe enteredhisdwellingwithoutanalyzingthedetailedmeaningi.e.,If,with regardtothecausewherebytheperceptions&categoriesofcomplicationassaila person,thereisnothingtheretorelish,welcome,orremainfastenedto,thenthat istheendoftheobsessionsofpassion,theobsessionsofresistance,the obsessionsofviews,theobsessionsofuncertainty,theobsessionsofconceit,the obsessionsofpassionforbecoming,&theobsessionsofignorance.Thatisthe endoftakinguprods&bladedweapons,ofarguments,quarrels,disputes, accusations,divisivetalebearing,&falsespeech.Thatiswheretheseevil, unskillfulthingsceasewithoutremainderthisishowIunderstandthe detailedmeaning.Now,ifyouwish,havinggonetotheBlessedOne,question himaboutthismatter.Howeverheanswersishowyoushouldrememberit. Thenthemonks,delightingin&approvingofVen.MahaKaccayanas words,rosefromtheirseatsandwenttotheBlessedOne.Onarrival,having boweddowntohim,theysattooneside.Astheyweresittingthere,they[told himwhathadhappenedafterhehadgoneintohisdwelling,andendedby saying,]ThenVen.MahaKaccayanaanalyzedthemeaningusingthesewords, thesestatements,thesephrases. MahaKaccayanaiswise,monks.Heisapersonofgreatdiscernment.Ifyou hadaskedmeaboutthismatter,Itoowouldhaveansweredinthesamewayhe did.Thatisthemeaningofthisstatement.Thatishowyoushouldrememberit. Whenthiswassaid,Ven.AnandasaidtotheBlessedOne,Lord,itsasifa manovercomewithhunger,weakness,&thirstweretocomeacrossaballof honey.Whereverhemighttasteit,hewouldexperienceasweet,delectable flavor.Inthesameway,whereveramonkofcapableawarenessmight investigatethemeaningofthisDhammadiscoursewithhisdiscernment,he wouldexperiencegratification,hewouldexperienceconfidence.Whatisthe nameofthisDhammadiscourse? 26

Then,Ananda,youcanrememberthisDhammadiscourseastheBallof HoneyDiscourse. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Gratified,Ven.Anandadelightedinthe BlessedOneswords.

NOTE:[1]Theartificialityofthisphrasedelineateadelineationseems intentional.Itunderlinestheartificeimplicitintheprocessbywhichthemind,in singlingoutevents,turnsthemintodiscretethings.SeeMN109,note2. [Seealso:DN21;ANIII.73;SnIV.11]

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TwoSortsofThinking DvedhavitakkaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya19)

IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewasstayingatSavatthi,in JetasGrove,Anathapindikasmonastery.Thereheaddressedthemonks: Monks! Yes,lord,themonksreplied. TheBlessedOnesaid,Monks,beforemyselfawakening,whenIwasstill justanunawakenedBodhisatta,thethoughtoccurredtome:WhydontIkeep dividingmythinkingintotwosorts?SoImadethinkingimbuedwith sensuality,thinkingimbuedwithillwill,&thinkingimbuedwithharmfulness onesort,andthinkingimbuedwithrenunciation,thinkingimbuedwithnonill will,&thinkingimbuedwithharmlessnessanothersort. AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith sensualityarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithsensualityhasarisen inme;andthatleadstomyownafflictionortotheafflictionofothersortothe afflictionofboth.Itobstructsdiscernment,promotesvexation,&doesnotleadto Unbinding. AsInoticedthatitleadstomyownaffliction,itsubsided.AsInoticedthat itleadstotheafflictionofothers...totheafflictionofboth...itobstructs discernment,promotesvexation,&doesnotleadtoUnbinding,itsubsided. Wheneverthinkingimbuedwithsensualityhadarisen,Isimplyabandonedit, destroyedit,dispelledit,wipeditoutofexistence. AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith illwillarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithillwillhasariseninme; andthatleadstomyownafflictionortotheafflictionofothersortotheaffliction ofboth.Itobstructsdiscernment,promotesvexation,&doesnotleadto Unbinding. AsInoticedthatitleadstomyownaffliction,itsubsided.AsInoticedthat itleadstotheafflictionofothers...totheafflictionofboth...itobstructs discernment,promotesvexation,&doesnotleadtoUnbinding,itsubsided. Wheneverthinkingimbuedwithillwillhadarisen,Isimplyabandonedit, destroyedit,dispelledit,wipeditoutofexistence.

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AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith harmfulnessarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithharmfulnesshas ariseninme;andthatleadstomyownafflictionortotheafflictionofothersorto theafflictionofboth.Itobstructsdiscernment,promotesvexation,&doesnot leadtoUnbinding. AsInoticedthatitleadstomyownaffliction,itsubsided.AsInoticedthat itleadstotheafflictionofothers...totheafflictionofboth...itobstructs discernment,promotesvexation,&doesnotleadtoUnbinding,itsubsided. Wheneverthinkingimbuedwithharmfulnesshadarisen,Isimplyabandonedit, destroyedit,dispelledit,wipeditoutofexistence. Whateveramonkkeepspursuingwithhisthinking&pondering,that becomestheinclinationofhisawareness.Ifamonkkeepspursuingthinking imbuedwithsensuality,abandoningthinkingimbuedwithrenunciation,his mindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwithsensuality.Ifamonkkeepspursuing thinkingimbuedwithillwill,abandoningthinkingimbuedwithnonillwill,his mindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwithillwill.Ifamonkkeepspursuing thinkingimbuedwithharmfulness,abandoningthinkingimbuedwith harmlessness,hismindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwithharmfulness. JustasinthelastmonthoftheRains,intheautumnseasonwhenthecrops areripening,acowherdwouldlookafterhiscows:Hewouldtap&poke& check&curbthemwithastickonthisside&that.Whyisthat?Becausehe foreseesfloggingorimprisonmentorafineorpubliccensurearisingfromthat[if helethiscowswanderintothecrops].InthesamewayIforesawinunskillful qualitiesdrawbacks,degradation,&defilement,andIforesawinskillful qualitiesrewardsrelatedtorenunciation&promotingcleansing. AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith renunciationarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithrenunciationhas ariseninme;andthatleadsneithertomyownaffliction,nortotheafflictionof others,nortotheafflictionofboth.Itfostersdiscernment,promoteslackof vexation,&leadstoUnbinding.IfIweretothink&ponderinlinewiththateven foranight...evenforaday...evenforaday&night,Idonotenvisionanydanger thatwouldcomefromit,exceptthatthinking&ponderingalongtimewould tirethebody.Whenthebodyistired,themindisdisturbed;andadisturbed mindisfarfromconcentration.SoIsteadiedmymindrightwithin,settled, unified,&concentratedit.Whyisthat?Sothatmymindwouldnotbedisturbed. AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith nonillwillarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithnonillwillhasarisen 29

inme;andthatleadsneithertomyownaffliction,nortotheafflictionofothers, nortotheafflictionofboth.Itfostersdiscernment,promoteslackofvexation,& leadstoUnbinding.IfIweretothink&ponderinlinewiththatevenfora night...evenforaday...evenforaday&night,Idonotenvisionanydangerthat wouldcomefromit,exceptthatthinking&ponderingalongtimewouldtirethe body.Whenthebodyistired,themindisdisturbed;andadisturbedmindisfar fromconcentration.SoIsteadiedmymindrightwithin,settled,unified,& concentratedit.Whyisthat?Sothatmymindwouldnotbedisturbed. AndasIremainedthusheedful,ardent,&resolute,thinkingimbuedwith harmlessnessarose.IdiscernedthatThinkingimbuedwithharmlessnesshas ariseninme;andthatleadsneithertomyownaffliction,nortotheafflictionof others,nortotheafflictionofboth.Itfostersdiscernment,promoteslackof vexation,&leadstoUnbinding.IfIweretothink&ponderinlinewiththateven foranight...evenforaday...evenforaday&night,Idonotenvisionanydanger thatwouldcomefromit,exceptthatthinking&ponderingalongtimewould tirethebody.Whenthebodyistired,themindisdisturbed;andadisturbed mindisfarfromconcentration.SoIsteadiedmymindrightwithin,settled, unified,&concentratedit.Whyisthat?Sothatmymindwouldnotbedisturbed. Whateveramonkkeepspursuingwithhisthinking&pondering,that becomestheinclinationofhisawareness.Ifamonkkeepspursuingthinking imbuedwithrenunciation,abandoningthinkingimbuedwithsensuality,his mindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwithrenunciation.Ifamonkkeeps pursuingthinkingimbuedwithnonillwill,abandoningthinkingimbuedwith illwill,hismindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwithnonillwill.Ifamonk keepspursuingthinkingimbuedwithharmlessness,abandoningthinking imbuedwithharmfulness,hismindisbentbythatthinkingimbuedwith harmlessness. Justasinthelastmonthofthehotseason,whenallthecropshavebeen gatheredintothevillage,acowherdwouldlookafterhiscows:Whileresting undertheshadeofatreeoroutintheopen,hesimplykeepshimselfmindfulof thosecows.Inthesameway,Isimplykeptmyselfmindfulofthosemental qualities. Unflaggingpersistencewasarousedinme,andunmuddledmindfulness established.Mybodywascalm&unaroused,mymindconcentrated&single. Quitewithdrawnfromsensuality,withdrawnfromunskillfulmentalqualities,I entered&remainedinthefirstjhana:rapture&pleasurebornfromwithdrawal, accompaniedbydirectedthought&evaluation.Withthestillingofdirected 30

thought&evaluation,Ientered&remainedinthesecondjhana:rapture& pleasurebornofcomposure,unificationofawarenessfreefromdirectedthought &evaluationinternalassurance.WiththefadingofraptureIremainedin equanimity,mindful&alert,andphysicallysensitiveofpleasure.Ientered& remainedinthethirdjhana,ofwhichtheNobleOnesdeclare,Equanimous& mindful,hehasapleasurableabiding.Withtheabandoningofpleasure& painaswiththeearlierdisappearanceofelation&distressIentered& remainedinthefourthjhana:purityofequanimity&mindfulness,neither pleasurenorpain. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeofrecollectingmypastlives.Irecollectedmymanifoldpastlives, i.e.,onebirth,two...five,ten...fifty,ahundred,athousand,ahundred thousand,manyeonsofcosmiccontraction,manyeonsofcosmicexpansion, manyeonsofcosmiccontraction&expansion:ThereIhadsuchaname, belongedtosuchaclan,hadsuchanappearance.Suchwasmyfood,suchmy experienceofpleasure&pain,suchtheendofmylife.Passingawayfromthat state,Irearosethere.TheretooIhadsuchaname,belongedtosuchaclan,had suchanappearance.Suchwasmyfood,suchmyexperienceofpleasure&pain, suchtheendofmylife.Passingawayfromthatstate,Irearosehere.ThusI rememberedmymanifoldpastlivesintheirmodes&details. ThiswasthefirstknowledgeIattainedinthefirstwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;lightarose ashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeofthepassingaway&reappearanceofbeings.Isawbymeansof thedivineeye,purified&surpassingthehumanbeingspassingaway&re appearing,andIdiscernedhowtheyareinferior&superior,beautiful&ugly, fortunate&unfortunateinaccordancewiththeirkamma:Thesebeingswho wereendowedwithbadconductofbody,speech&mind,whoreviledtheNoble Ones,heldwrongviewsandundertookactionsundertheinfluenceofwrong viewswiththebreakupofthebody,afterdeath,havereappearedintheplane ofdeprivation,thebaddestination,thelowerrealms,inhell.Butthese beingswhowereendowedwithgoodconductofbody,speech,&mind,who didnotreviletheNobleOnes,whoheldrightviewsandundertookactions undertheinfluenceofrightviewswiththebreakupofthebody,afterdeath, 31

havereappearedinthegooddestinations,intheheavenlyworld.Thusby meansofthedivineeye,purified&surpassingthehumanIsawbeingspassing away&reappearing,andIdiscernedhowtheyareinferior&superior,beautiful &ugly,fortunate&unfortunateinaccordancewiththeirkamma. ThiswasthesecondknowledgeIattainedinthesecondwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;light aroseashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Whenthemindwasthusconcentrated,purified,bright,unblemished,ridof defilement,pliant,malleable,steady,&attainedtoimperturbability,Idirectedit totheknowledgeoftheendingofthementalfermentations.Idiscerned,asitwas actuallypresent,thatThisisstress...Thisistheoriginationofstress...Thisisthe cessationofstress...Thisisthewayleadingtothecessationofstress...Theseare fermentations...Thisistheoriginationoffermentations...Thisisthecessationof fermentations...Thisisthewayleadingtothecessationoffermentations.My heart,thusknowing,thusseeing,wasreleasedfromthefermentationof sensuality,releasedfromthefermentationofbecoming,releasedfromthe fermentationofignorance.Withrelease,therewastheknowledge,Released.I discernedthatBirthisended,theholylifefulfilled,thetaskdone.Thereis nothingfurtherforthisworld. ThiswasthethirdknowledgeIattainedinthethirdwatchofthenight. Ignorancewasdestroyed;knowledgearose;darknesswasdestroyed;light aroseashappensinonewhoisheedful,ardent,&resolute. Suppose,monks,thatinaforestedwildernesstherewerealargelowlying marsh,independenceonwhichtherelivedalargeherdofdeer;andacertain manweretoappear,notdesiringtheirbenefit,notdesiringtheirwelfare,not desiringtheirrestfrombondage.Hewouldcloseoffthesafe,restfulpaththat ledtotheirrapture,andwouldopenupafalsepath,setoutamaledecoy,placea femaledecoy,andthusthelargeherdofdeer,atalatertime,wouldfallintoruin &disaster.Thensupposethatacertainmanweretoappeartothatsamelarge herdofdeer,desiringtheirbenefit,desiringtheirwelfare,desiringtheirrestfrom bondage.Hewouldopenupthesafe,restfulpaththatledtotheirrapture,would closeoffthefalsepath,takeawaythemaledecoy,destroythefemaledecoy,and thusthelargeherdofdeer,atalatertime,wouldcomeintogrowth,increase,& abundance. Ihavegiventhissimileinordertoconveyameaning.Themeaningisthis: Thelarge,lowlyingmarshisatermforsensualpleasures.Thelargeherdof deerisatermforbeings.Themannotdesiringtheirbenefit,notdesiringtheir 32

welfare,notdesiringtheirrestfrombondageisatermforMara,theEvilOne. Thefalsepathisatermfortheeightfoldwrongpath,i.e.,wrongview,wrong resolve,wrongspeech,wrongaction,wronglivelihood,wrongeffort,wrong mindfulness,&wrongconcentration.Themaledecoyisatermforpassion& delight.Thefemaledecoyisatermforignorance.Themandesiringtheir benefit,desiringtheirwelfare,desiringtheirrestfrombondageisatermforthe Tathagata,theWorthyOne,theRightlySelfawakenedOne.Thesafe,restful paththatledtotheirraptureisatermforthenobleeightfoldpath,i.e.,right view,rightresolve,rightspeech,rightaction,rightlivelihood,righteffort,right mindfulness,&rightconcentration. So,monks,Ihaveopenedupthesafe,restfulpath,closedoffthefalsepath, removedthemaledecoy,destroyedthefemale.Whateverateachershould doseekingthewelfareofhisdisciples,outofsympathyforthemthathaveI doneforyou.Overtherearetherootsoftrees;overthere,emptydwellings. Practicejhana,monks.Dontbeheedless.Dontlaterfallintoregret.Thisisour messagetoyou. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Gratified,themonksdelightedinthe BlessedOneswords.

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TheRelaxationofThoughts VitakkasanthanaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya20) IhaveheardthatononeoccasiontheBlessedOnewasstayingatSavatthi,in JetasGrove,Anathapindikasmonastery.Thereheaddressedthemonks, Monks! Yes,lord,themonksreplied. TheBlessedOnesaid:Whenamonkisintentontheheightenedmind,there arefivethemesheshouldattendtoattheappropriatetimes.Whichfive? Thereisthecasewhereevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire, aversion,ordelusionariseinamonkwhileheisreferringtoandattendingtoa particulartheme.Heshouldattendtoanothertheme,apartfromthatone, connectedwithwhatisskillful.Whenheisattendingtothisothertheme,apart fromthatone,connectedwithwhatisskillful,thenthoseevil,unskillful thoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversion,ordelusionareabandonedand subside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit, unifiesit,andconcentratesit.Justasaskilledcarpenterorhisapprenticewould useasmallpegtoknockout,driveout,andpulloutalargeone;inthesame way,ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversion,or delusionariseinamonkwhileheisreferringtoandattendingtoaparticular theme,heshouldattendtoanothertheme,apartfromthatone,connectedwith whatisskillful.Whenheisattendingtothisothertheme,apartfromthatone, connectedwithwhatisskillful,thenthoseevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnected withdesire,aversion,ordelusionareabandonedandsubside.Withtheir abandoning,hesteadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesit,and concentratesit. Ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversion,or delusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheisattendingtothisothertheme, connectedwithwhatisskillful,heshouldscrutinizethedrawbacksofthose thoughts:Really,thesethoughtsofmineareunskillful,thesethoughtsofmine areblameworthy,thesethoughtsofmineresultinstress.Asheisscrutinizing thedrawbacksofthosethoughts,thoseevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwith desire,aversion,ordelusionareabandonedandsubside.Withtheir abandoning,hesteadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesit,and concentratesit.Justasayoungwomanormanfondofadornment,wouldbe 34

horrified,humiliated,anddisgustedifthecarcassofasnakeoradogorahuman beingwerehungfromherneck;inthesameway,ifevil,unskillful thoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversion,ordelusionstillariseinthemonk whileheisattendingtothisothertheme,connectedwithwhatisskillful,he shouldscrutinizethedrawbacksofthosethoughts:Really,thesethoughtsof mineareunskillful,thesethoughtsofmineareblameworthy,thesethoughtsof mineresultinstress.Asheisscrutinizingthedrawbacksofthosethoughts, thoseevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversion,ordelusionare abandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshismindright within,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit. Ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversionor delusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheisscrutinizingthedrawbacksofthose thoughts,heshouldpaynomindandpaynoattentiontothosethoughts.Ashe ispayingnomindandpayingnoattentiontothem,thoseevil,unskillful thoughtsareabandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshis mindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit.Justasamanwith goodeyes,notwantingtoseeformsthathadcomeintorange,wouldclosehis eyesorlookaway;inthesameway,ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwith desire,aversionordelusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheisscrutinizingthe drawbacksofthosethoughts,heshouldpaynomindandpaynoattentionto thosethoughts.Asheispayingnomindandpayingnoattentiontothem,those evil,unskillfulthoughtsareabandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,he steadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit. Ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversionor delusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheispayingnomindandpayingno attentiontothosethoughts,heshouldattendtotherelaxingofthought fabricationwithregardtothosethoughts.Asheisattendingtotherelaxingof thoughtfabricationwithregardtothosethoughts,thoseevil,unskillfulthoughts areabandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshismindright within,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit.Justasthethoughtwouldoccurto amanwalkingquickly,WhyamIwalkingquickly?WhydontIwalkslowly? Sohewalksslowly.Thethoughtoccurstohim,WhyamIwalkingslowly? WhydontIstand?Sohestands.Thethoughtoccurstohim,WhyamI standing?WhydontIsitdown?Sohesitsdown.Thethoughtoccurstohim, WhyamIsitting?WhydontIliedown?Soheliesdown.Inthisway, givingupthegrosserposture,hetakesupthemorerefinedone.Inthesame way,ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversionor 35

delusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheispayingnomindandpayingno attentiontothosethoughts,heshouldattendtotherelaxingofthought fabricationwithregardtothosethoughts.Asheisattendingtotherelaxingof thoughtfabricationwithregardtothosethoughts,thoseevil,unskillfulthoughts areabandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshismindright within,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit. Ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnectedwithdesire,aversionor delusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheisattendingtotherelaxingofthought fabricationwithregardtothosethoughts,thenwithhisteethclenchedandhis tonguepressedagainsttheroofofhismouthheshouldbeatdown,constrain, andcrushhismindwithhisawareness.Aswithhisteethclenchedandhis tonguepressedagainsttheroofofhismouthheisbeatingdown,constraining, andcrushinghismindwithhisawareness,thoseevil,unskillfulthoughtsare abandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,hesteadieshismindright within,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit.Justasastrongman,seizinga weakermanbytheheadorthethroatortheshoulders,wouldbeathimdown, constrain,andcrushhim;inthesameway,ifevil,unskillfulthoughtsconnected withdesire,aversionordelusionstillariseinthemonkwhileheisattendingto therelaxingofthoughtfabricationwithregardtothosethoughts,thenwithhis teethclenchedandhistonguepressedagainsttheroofofhismouthheshould beatdown,constrain,andcrushhismindwithhisawareness.Aswithhisteeth clenchedandhistonguepressedagainsttheroofofhismouthheisbeating down,constraining,andcrushinghismindwithhisawareness,thoseevil, unskillfulthoughtsareabandonedandsubside.Withtheirabandoning,he steadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesit,andconcentratesit. Nowwhenamonk...attendingtoanothertheme...scrutinizingthe drawbacksofthosethoughts...payingnomindandpayingnoattentiontothose thoughts...attendingtotherelaxingofthoughtfabricationwithregardtothose thoughts...beatingdown,constrainingandcrushinghismindwithhis awareness...steadieshismindrightwithin,settlesit,unifiesitandconcentrates it:Heisthencalledamonkwithmasteryoverthewaysofthoughtsequences. Hethinkswhateverthoughthewantsto,anddoesntthinkwhateverthought hedoesnt.Hehasseveredcraving,thrownoffthefetters,andthroughthe rightpenetrationofconceithasmadeanendofsuffering&stress. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Gratified,themonksdelightedinthe BlessedOneswords.

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TheSimileoftheSaw(Excerpt) KakacupamaSutta(MajjhimaNikaya21) Once,monks,inthissameSavatthi,therewasaladyofahouseholdnamed Vedehika.ThisgoodreportaboutLadyVedehikahadcirculated:Lady Vedehikaisgentle.LadyVedehikaiseventempered.LadyVedehikaiscalm. Now,LadyVedehikahadaslavenamedKaliwhowasdiligent,deft,&neatin herwork.ThethoughtoccurredtoKalitheslave:Thisgoodreportaboutmy LadyVedehikahascirculated:LadyVedehikaiseventempered.Lady Vedehikaisgentle.LadyVedehikaiscalm.Now,isangerpresentinmylady withoutshowing,orisitabsent?OrisitjustbecauseImdiligent,deft,&neatin myworkthattheangerpresentinmyladydoesntshow?WhydontItest her? SoKalitheslavegotupafterdaybreak.ThenLadyVedehikasaidtoher: Hey,Kali! Yes,madam? Whydidyougetupafterdaybreak? Noreason,madam. Noreason,youwickedslave,andyetyougetupafterdaybreak? Angered&displeased,shescowled. ThenthethoughtoccurredtoKalitheslave:Angerispresentinmylady withoutshowing,andnotabsent.AnditsjustbecauseImdiligent,deft,& neatinmyworkthattheangerpresentinmyladydoesntshow.WhydontI testhersomemore? SoKalitheslavegotuplaterintheday.ThenLadyVedehikasaidtoher: Hey,Kali! Yes,madam? Whydidyougetuplaterintheday? Noreason,madam. Noreason,youwickedslave,andyetyougetuplaterintheday? Angered&displeased,shegrumbled. ThenthethoughtoccurredtoKalitheslave:Angerispresentinmylady withoutshowing,andnotabsent.AnditsjustbecauseImdiligent,deft,& neatinmyworkthattheangerpresentinmyladydoesntshow.WhydontI testhersomemore? 37

SoKalitheslavegotupevenlaterintheday.ThenLadyVedehikasaidto her:Hey,Kali! Yes,madam? Whydidyougetupevenlaterintheday? Noreason,madam. Noreason,youwickedslave,andyetyougetupevenlaterintheday? Angered&displeased,shegrabbedholdofarollingpinandgaveherawhack overthehead,cuttingitopen. ThenKalitheslave,withbloodstreamingfromhercutopenhead,wentand denouncedhermistresstotheneighbors:See,ladies,thegentleones handiwork?Seetheeventemperedoneshandiwork?Seethecalmones handiwork?Howcouldshe,angered&displeasedwithheronlyslaveforgetting upafterdaybreak,grabholdofarollingpinandgiveherawhackoverthehead, cuttingitopen? AfterthatthisevilreportaboutLadyVedehikacirculated:LadyVedehika isvicious.LadyVedehikaisfoultempered.LadyVedehikaisviolent. Inthesameway,monks,amonkmaybeeversogentle,eversoeven tempered,eversocalm,aslongasheisnottouchedbydisagreeableaspectsof speech.Butitisonlywhendisagreeableaspectsofspeechtouchhimthathecan trulybeknownasgentle,eventempered,&calm.Idontcallamonkeasyto admonishifheiseasytoadmonishandmakeshimselfeasytoadmonishonlyby reasonofrobes,almsfood,lodging,&medicinalrequisitesforcuringthesick. Whyisthat?Becauseifhedoesntgetrobes,almsfood,lodging,&medicinal requisitesforcuringthesick,thenheisnteasytoadmonishanddoesntmake himselfeasytoadmonish.Butifamonkiseasytoadmonishandmakeshimself easytoadmonishpurelyoutofesteemfortheDhamma,respectforthe Dhamma,reverencefortheDhamma,thenIcallhimeasytoadmonish.Thus, monks,youshouldtrainyourselves:Wewillbeeasytoadmonishandmake ourselveseasytoadmonishpurelyoutofesteemfortheDhamma,respectforthe Dhamma,reverencefortheDhamma.Thatshowyoushouldtrain yourselves. Monks,therearethesefiveaspectsofspeechbywhichothersmayaddress you:timelyoruntimely,trueorfalse,affectionateorharsh,beneficialor unbeneficial,withamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Othersmayaddress youinatimelywayoranuntimelyway.Theymayaddressyouwithwhatis trueorwhatisfalse.Theymayaddressyouinanaffectionatewayoraharsh way.Theymayaddressyouinabeneficialwayoranunbeneficialway.They 38

mayaddressyouwithamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Inanyevent,you shouldtrainyourselves:Ourmindswillbeunaffectedandwewillsaynoevil words.Wewillremainsympathetictothatpersonswelfare,withamindof goodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeeppervadinghimwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwithhim,wewillkeep pervadingtheallencompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgood willabundant,expansive,immeasurable,freefromhostility,freefromillwill. Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Supposethatamanweretocomealongcarryingahoe&abasket,saying, Iwillmakethisgreatearthbewithoutearth.Hewoulddighere&there, scattersoilhere&there,spithere&there,urinatehere&there,saying,Be withoutearth.Bewithoutearth.Now,whatdoyouthinkwouldhemakethis greatearthbewithoutearth? No,lord.Whyisthat?Becausethisgreatearthisdeep&enormous.Itcant easilybemadetobewithoutearth.Themanwouldreaponlyashareof weariness&disappointment. Inthesameway,monks,therearethesefiveaspectsofspeechbywhich othersmayaddressyou:timelyoruntimely,trueorfalse,affectionateorharsh, beneficialorunbeneficial,withamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Others mayaddressyouinatimelywayoranuntimelyway.Theymayaddressyou withwhatistrueorwhatisfalse.Theymayaddressyouinanaffectionateway oraharshway.Theymayaddressyouinabeneficialwayoranunbeneficial way.Theymayaddressyouwithamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Inany event,youshouldtrainyourselves:Ourmindswillbeunaffectedandwewill saynoevilwords.Wewillremainsympathetictothatpersonswelfare,witha mindofgoodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeeppervadinghimwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwithhim,wewillkeep pervadingtheallencompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgood willequaltothegreatearthabundant,expansive,immeasurable,freefrom hostility,freefromillwill.Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Supposethatamanweretocomealongcarryinglac,yelloworpiment, indigo,orcrimson,saying,Iwilldrawpicturesinspace,Iwillmakepictures appear.Now,whatdoyouthinkwouldhedrawpicturesinspace&make picturesappear? No,lord.Whyisthat?Becausespaceisformless&featureless.Itsnoteasy todrawpicturesthereandtomakethemappear.Themanwouldreaponlya shareofweariness&disappointment. 39

Inthesameway,monks,therearethesefiveaspectsofspeechbywhich othersmayaddressyou:timelyoruntimely,trueorfalse,affectionateorharsh, beneficialorunbeneficial,withamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Others mayaddressyouinatimelywayoranuntimelyway.Theymayaddressyou withwhatistrueorwhatisfalse.Theymayaddressyouinanaffectionateway oraharshway.Theymayaddressyouinabeneficialwayoranunbeneficial way.Theymayaddressyouwithamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Inany event,youshouldtrainyourselves:Ourmindswillbeunaffectedandwewill saynoevilwords.Wewillremainsympathetictothatpersonswelfare,witha mindofgoodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeeppervadinghimwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwithhim,wewillkeep pervadingtheallencompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgood willequaltospaceabundant,expansive,immeasurable,freefromhostility,free fromillwill.Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Supposethatamanweretocomealongcarryingaburninggrasstorchand saying,WiththisburninggrasstorchIwillheatuptheriverGangesandmake itboil.Now,whatdoyouthinkwouldhe,withthatburninggrasstorch,heat uptheriverGangesandmakeitboil? No,lord.Whyisthat?BecausetheriverGangesisdeep&enormous.Its noteasytoheatitupandmakeitboilwithaburninggrasstorch.Theman wouldreaponlyashareofweariness&disappointment. Inthesameway,monks,therearethesefiveaspectsofspeechbywhich othersmayaddressyou:timelyoruntimely,trueorfalse,affectionateorharsh, beneficialorunbeneficial,withamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Others mayaddressyouinatimelywayoranuntimelyway.Theymayaddressyou withwhatistrueorwhatisfalse.Theymayaddressyouinanaffectionateway oraharshway.Theymayaddressyouinabeneficialwayoranunbeneficial way.Theymayaddressyouwithamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Inany event,youshouldtrainyourselves:Ourmindswillbeunaffectedandwewill saynoevilwords.Wewillremainsympathetictothatpersonswelfare,witha mindofgoodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeeppervadinghimwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwithhim,wewillkeep pervadingtheallencompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgood willequaltotheriverGangesabundant,expansive,immeasurable,freefrom hostility,freefromillwill.Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Supposetherewereacatskinbagbeaten,wellbeaten,beatenthrough& through,soft,silky,freeofrustling&cracklingandamanweretocomealong 40

carryingastickorshardandsaying,WiththisstickorshardIwilltakethis catskinbagbeaten,wellbeaten,beatenthrough&through,soft,silky,freeof rustling&cracklingandIwillmakeitrustle&crackle.Now,whatdoyou thinkwouldhe,withthatstickorshard,takethatcatskinbagbeaten,well beaten,beatenthrough&through,soft,silky,freeofrustling&cracklingand makeitrustle&crackle? No,lord.Whyisthat?Becausethecatskinbagisbeaten,wellbeaten,beaten through&through,soft,silky,freeofrustling&crackling.Itsnoteasytomake itrustle&cracklewithastickorshard.Themanwouldreaponlyashareof weariness&disappointment. Inthesameway,monks,therearethesefiveaspectsofspeechbywhich othersmayaddressyou:timelyoruntimely,trueorfalse,affectionateorharsh, beneficialorunbeneficial,withamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Others mayaddressyouinatimelywayoranuntimelyway.Theymayaddressyou withwhatistrueorwhatisfalse.Theymayaddressyouinanaffectionateway oraharshway.Theymayaddressyouinabeneficialwayoranunbeneficial way.Theymayaddressyouwithamindofgoodwillorwithinnerhate.Inany event,youshouldtrainyourselves:Ourmindswillbeunaffectedandwewill saynoevilwords.Wewillremainsympathetictothatpersonswelfare,witha mindofgoodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeeppervadinghimwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwithhim,wewillkeep pervadingtheallencompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgood willequaltoacatskinbagabundant,expansive,immeasurable,freefrom hostility,freefromillwill.Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Monks,evenifbanditsweretocarveyouupsavagely,limbbylimb,witha twohandledsaw,heamongyouwholethisheartgetangeredevenatthat wouldnotbedoingmybidding.Eventhenyoushouldtrainyourselves:Our mindswillbeunaffectedandwewillsaynoevilwords.Wewillremain sympathetic,withamindofgoodwill,andwithnoinnerhate.Wewillkeep pervadingthesepeoplewithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland, beginningwiththem,wewillkeeppervadingtheallencompassingworldwith anawarenessimbuedwithgoodwillabundant,expansive,immeasurable,free fromhostility,freefromillwill.Thatshowyoushouldtrainyourselves. Monks,ifyouattendconstantlytothisadmonitiononthesimileofthesaw, doyouseeanyaspectsofspeech,slightorgross,thatyoucouldnotendure? No,lord.

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Thenattendconstantlytothisadmonitiononthesimileofthesaw.That willbeforyourlongtermwelfare&happiness. ThatiswhattheBlessedOnesaid.Gratified,themonksdelightedinthe BlessedOneswords.

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