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CONTENTS
Now the Blessed One, desirous of bringing about diverse kinds of attainments
of distinction in beings by the Discourse on the Arousing of Mindfulness, began
to teach the analytically explanatory portion [niddesavara] with the word
"And how o bhikkhus."
He did that after dividing into four the one mindfulness that is right [ekameva
sammasatim] by way of the contemplation on the body, on feelings, on
consciousness, and on mental objects.
The Blessed One's exposition of the Arousing of Mindfulness is similar to the
action of a worker in mat and basket weaving who wishing to make coarse and fine
mats, boxes, cases, and the like, should make those goods after getting a
mammoth bamboo, splitting it into four, and reducing each of the parts to
strips.
Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu = "Here, o bhikkhus, a bhikkhu."
"Here": In this Dispensation of the Buddha which provides the basis
for the person producing body-contemplation in all modes. By the word
"here", dispensations other than the Buddha's are excluded as they do
not teach body-contemplation in the complete way it is taught in the
Buddhadhamma. For this is said: "Here is the recluse; untenanted by
recluses are the other, opposing ways of thought."
The person producing body-contemplation in all modes. As
sects outside the Buddha's Dispensation also produce a part of this
contemplation, by their words, the Buddha's disciple's complete knowledge or
all-round grasp of this contemplation, when it is practiced by him, is told.
Araññagato va ..... suññagaragato va = "Gone to the forest
..... or to an empty place." By this, here is the making clear of the
getting of an abode appropriate to the meditator for the culture of mindfulness.
The mind of the meditator which for a long time (before he became a recluse)
had dwelt on visual and other objects, does not like to enter the road of
meditation and just like a wild young bull yoked to a cart, runs off the road.
A cowherd wishing to tame a wild calf nourished entirely on the milk of a
wild cow, ties that calf, after leading it away from the cow, to a stout post
firmly sunk in the ground, at a spot set apart for it. That calf, having jumped
hither and thither, and finding it impossible to run away from here, will crouch
down or lie down at that very post. Even so, must the bhikkhu who is desirous of
taming the wild mind nourished long on the tasty drink of visible and other
objects tie that mind to the post of the object of mindfulness-arousing with the
rope of remembrance, after leading the mind from visible and other objects and
ushering it into a forest, to the foot of a tree or into an empty place. The
mind of the bhikkhu will also jump hither and thither. Not obtaining the objects
it had long grown used to, and finding it impossible to break the rope of
remembrance and run away, it will finally sit or lie down at that every object
by way of partial and full absorption. Therefore, the men of old said:
As one who wants to break a wild young calf
Would tether it to stout stake firmly, here,
In the same way the yogi should tie fast
To meditation's object his own mind.
In this way this abode becomes appropriate in the meditator. Therefore, it is
said, "This (namely, the passage beginning with the words, 'Gone to the
forest .....') is the making clear of an abode appropriate to the meditator for
the culture of mindfulness."
Because the subject of meditation of mindfulness on in-and-out-breathing is
not easy to accomplish without leaving the neighbourhood of a village, owing to
sound, which is a thorn to absorption; and because in a place not become a
township it is easy for the meditator to lay hold of this subject of meditation,
the Blessed One, pointing out the abode suitable for that, spoke the words,
"Gone to the forest," and so forth.
The Buddha is like a master of the science of building sites [vatthu
vijjacariya] because of the pointing out by him of the suitable abode for
yogis [yoginam anurupa nivasatthanu-padissanato].
As a master in the science of selecting building sites, after seeing a
stretch of ground good for building a town, and after considering it well from
all sides, advises: "Build the town here," and when the building of
the town is happily completed receives high honour from the royal family, so the
Buddha having well considered from all points the abode suitable for the
meditator advises: "Here, should the subject of meditation be yoked on
to." When arahantship is gradually reached by the yogi, by the expression
of the yogi's gratitude and admiration with the words: "Certainly, the
Blessed One is the Supremely Awakened One," the Master, receives great
honour.
The bhikkhu indeed, is comparable to a leopard, because like the leopard
he lives alone, in the forest, and accomplishes his aim, by overcoming those
contrary to him, namely, the passions.
Just as a great king of leopards concealed in the forest in grass-bush,
jungle-bush or hill-thicket, seizes wild buffaloes, elks, pigs and other beasts,
this bhikkhu yoking himself to the subject of meditation gains the Four Real
Paths and Fruits [cattaro magge ceva ariyaphalani ganhati] one after
another, in succession; and therefore the men of old said:
As leopard in ambush lies and captures beasts,
So does this son of the Awakened One,
The striving man, the man of vision keen.
Having into the forest gone seize therein
Fruition that truly is supreme.
And so the Blessed One, pointing out the forest abode, the fit place for
speedy exertion in the practice of meditation, said "Gone to the
forest", and so forth.
Nisidati pallankam abhujitva ujum kayam panidhaya parimukham satim
upatthapetva so satova assasati sato passasati = "Sits down, bends in
his legs crosswise on his lap, keeps is body erect, and arouses mindfulness in
the object of meditation, namely, the breath which is in front of him. Mindful
he breathes in, and mindful he breathes out."
"Bends in his legs crosswise on his lap." Three things pertaining
to the sitting posture of the yogi are pointed out by that: firmness of the
posture; easefulness of breathing due to the posture; and the expediency of the
posture for laying hold of the subject of meditation.
One sits in this posture having locked in the legs. It is the entirely
thigh-bound sitting posture, and is known as the lotus, and the immovable
posture too.
"Keeps his body erect." Keeps the vertebrae in such a position that
every segment of the backbone is said to be placed upright, and end to end
throughout. The body, waist upwards, is held straight.
"Arouses mindfulness in front." Fixes the attention by directing it
towards the breath which is in front.
"Mindful he breathes in and mindful he breathes out." Breathes in
and out without abandoning mindfulness.
Digham va assasanto digham assasamiti pajanati digham va passasanto digham
passasamiti pajanati: = "He, thinking, 'I breathe in long,' understands
when he is breathing in long; or thinking, 'I breathe out long,' he understands
when he is breathing out long.
"When breathing in long, how does he understand, 'I breathe in long.'?
When breathing out long, how does he understand 'I breathe out long'? He
breathes in a long breath during a long stretch of time, he breathes out a long
breath during a long stretch of time, and he breathes in and he breathes out
long breaths, each during a long stretch of time. As he breathes in and breathes
out long breaths, each during a long stretch of time, desire [or intention; chanda]
arises in him. With desire he breathes in a long breath finer than the last
during a long stretch of time; with desire he breathes out a long breath finer
than the last during a long stretch of time; and with desire he breathes in and
he breathes out long breaths finer than the last, each during a long stretch of
time. As with desire he breathes in and he breathes out long breaths finer than
the last, each during a long stretch of time, joy [piti] arises in him.
With joy he breathes in a long breath finer than the last during a long stretch
of time; with joy he breathes out a long breath finer than the last during a
long stretch of time; and with joy he breathes in and he breathes out long
breaths finer than the last, each during a long stretch of time. As with joy he
breathes in and he breathes out long breaths finer than the last, each during a
long stretch of time, the mind turns away from the long in-and-out-breathings,
and equanimity [upekkha] stands firm.
Sabbakayapatisamvedi Assasissami ..... passasissamiti sikkhati ..... =
"Experiencing the whole body I shall breathe in ..... breathe out, thinking
thus, he trains himself." He trains himself with the following idea: I
shall breathe in making known, making clear, to myself the beginning, middle,
and end of the whole body of breathings in; I shall breathe out making known,
making clear, to myself the beginning, middle and end of the whole body of
breathings out. And he breathes in and breathes out with consciousness
associated with knowledge making known, making clear, to himself the
breaths."
"To one bhikkhu, indeed, in the tenuous diffused body of in- breathing
or body of out-breathing only the beginning becomes clear; not the middle or the
end. He is able to lay hold of only the beginning. In the middle and at the end
he is troubled. To another the middle becomes clear and not the beginning or the
end. To a third only the end becomes clear; the beginning and the middle do not
become clear and he is able only to lay hold of the breath at the end. He is
troubled at the beginning and at the middle. To a fourth even all the three
stages become clear and he is able to lay hold of all; he is troubled nowhere.
For pointing out that this subject of meditation should be developed after the
manner of the fourth one, the Master said: Experiencing .... He trains
himself."
"Since in the earlier way of the practice of this meditation there was
nothing else to be done but just breathing in and breathing out, it is said: He
thinking, I breathe in ..... understands ..... and since thereafter there should
be endeavour for bringing about knowledge and so forth, it is said, Experiencing
the whole body I shall breathe in."
Passambhayam kayasamkharam assasissamiti ..... passasissamiti sikkhati = "Calming
the activity of the body I shall breathe in .... breathe out, thinking thus, he
trains himself." He thinks: " I shall breathe in and I shall breathe
out, quieting, making smooth, making tranquil and peaceful the activity of the
in-and-out-breathing body. And in that way, he trains himself."
"In this connection coarseness, fineness and calm should be understood
thus: Without contemplative effort, the body and the mind of this bhikkhu are
distressed, coarse. When the body and the mind are coarse, the
in-and-out-breathings too are coarse and proceed uncalmly; the nasal aperture
becomes inadequate and he has to breathe through the mouth, too. But when the
body and the mind are under control then the body and the mind become placid,
restful. When these are restful, the breathings proceed so fine that the bhikkhu
doubts whether or not the breathings are going on."
"The breathing of a man who runs down from a hill, puts down a heavy
burden from his head, and stands still is coarse; his nasal aperture becomes
inadequate and he breathes through the mouth, too. But when he rids himself of
his fatigue, takes a bath and a drink of water, and puts a wet cloth over his
heart and is sitting in the shade, his breathing becomes fine, and he is at a
loss to know whether it exists or not. Comparable to that man is the bhikkhu
whose breaths become so fine after the taking up of the practice of
contemplation that he finds it difficult to say whether he is breathing or not.
What is the reason for this? Without taking up the practice of meditation he
does not perceive, concentrate on, reflect on, or think over, the question of
calming the gross activity of the breathing body, the breaths, but with the
practice of meditation he does. Therefore, the activity of the breath-body
becomes finer in the time in which meditation is practiced than in the time in
which there is no practice. So the men of old said:
"In the agitated mind and body the breath is of the coarsest kind.
In the unexcited body, fully subtle does it wind."
"How does he train himself with the thought: Calming the activity of the
body, I shall breathe in .... breathe out? What are the activities of the body?
Those things of the body of breaths, those things bound up with that body, are
the activities of the body. Causing the body-activities to become composed, to
become smooth and calm, he trains himself ..... He trains himself thinking thus:
Calming the body-activity by way of (quieting) the bodily activities of bending
forwards, sidewards, all over, and backwards, and (by way of the quieting of)
the moving, quivering, vibrating, and quaking of the body, I shall breathe in
..... I shall breathe out. I shall breathe in and I shall breathe out, calming
the activity of the body, by way of whatsoever peaceful and fine body-activities
of non-bending of the body forwards, sidewards, all over and backwards, of
non-moving, non-quivering, non-vibrating, and non-quaking, of the body."[19]
Indeed, to that yogi training in respiration-mindfulness according to the
method taught thus: "He, thinking 'I breathe in long,' understands when he
is breathing in long ..... Calming the activity of the body ..... I breathe out,
thinking thus, he trains himself" [digham va assasanto digham assasamiti
pajanati ..... passambhayam kayasankharam passasissamiti sikkhati], the four
absorptions [cattari jhanani] arise in the respiration sign [assasapassasanimitte
uppajjanti].
In the respiration sign = In the reflex image [patibhaga nimitta].
Having emerged from the absorption, he lays hold of either the respiration
body or the factors of absorption.
There the meditating worker in respiration [assasapassasa kammika]
examines the body (rupa) thinking thus: Supported by what is respiration?
Supported by the basis [vatthunissita]. The basis is the coarse body [karajja
kaya]. The coarse body is composed of the Four Great Primaries and the
corporeality derived from these [cattari mahabhutani upadarupañca].
The worker in respiration examines the respiration while devoting himself
to the development of insight through the means of corporeality.
The basis, namely, the coarse body, is where the mind and mental
characteristics occur.
Thereupon, he, the worker in respiration, cognizes the mind (nama) in
the pentad of mental concomitants beginning with sense-impression.
The first beginning with sense-impression are sense-impression, feeling,
perception, volition, and consciousness. They are taken here as representative
of mind.
The worker in respiration examines the mind and the body, sees the Dependent
Origination of ignorance and so forth, and concluding that this mind and this
body are bare conditions, and things produced from conditions, and that besides
these there is neither a living being nor a person, becomes to that extent a
person who transcends doubt.
Besides these phenomena there is neither a living being nor a person
refers to vision that is purified [añño satto va puggalo natthiti
visuddhiditthi].
Mind-and-body is a bare impersonal process. It is not unrelated to a cause
and also not related to a discordant cause (which is fictive) like god, but is
connected with (the really perceivable fact of) a cause like ignorance [tayidam
dhammamattam na ahetukam napi issariyadi visamahetukam atha kho avijjadihi eva
sahetukam].
A person who has transcended doubt regarding the past, the
future and the present (of his own existence and so forth, as for instance
taught in the Sabbasava Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya).
And the yogi who has transcended doubt while cultivating insight, applies the
three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and soullessness, to the mind
and body together with the conditions and gradually reaches arahantship [sappaccaya
nama rupe tilakkhanam aropetva vipassanam vaddhento anukkamena arahattam
papunati].
Applies the three characteristics in order to grasp the
qualities of the aggregates according to the method taught in the Anatta
Lakkhana Sutta of the Samyutta Nikaya beginning with the words: "Whatsoever
form."
The worker in absorption, namely, he who contemplates upon the factors of
absorption, also thinks thus: Supported by what are these factors of absorption?
By the basis. The basis is the coarse body. The factors of absorption are here
representative of the mind. The coarse body is the body. Having determined thus,
he, searching for the reason of the mind and the body, seeks it in Conditions'
Mode beginning with ignorance, concludes that this mind and the body comprise
just conditions and things produced by conditions and that besides these there
is neither a living being nor a person, and becomes to that extent a person who
transcends doubt.
And the yogi who transcends doubt thus, while cultivating insight, applies
the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering and soullessness, to the
mind and the body together with conditions and gradually reaches arahantship.
Iti ajjhattam va kaye kayanupassi viharati = "Thus he lives
contemplating the body in the body internally." This bhikkhu dwells in
contemplation of the body in his own respiration body.
By way of the practice of quietude [samatha bhavana] however there is no
arising of the sign of full absorption [appana nimittuppatti] in another's
respiration-body.
Bahiddha va kaye kayanupassi viharati = "Or he lives
contemplating the body in the body externally." Or this bhikkhu dwells in
contemplation of the body in another's respiration-body.
Or ..... in another's respiration-body. This portion deals
with reflection for the growth of insight and has no reference to the growth of
full absorption of quietude.....
Ajjhatta-bahiddha va kaye kayanupassi viharati = "Or he lives
contemplating the body in the body internally and externally." At one time
in his own and at another in another's respiration-body, he dwells in
contemplation of the body. By this there is reference to the time when the
yogi's mind moves repeatedly back and forth (internally and externally by way of
object) without laying aside the familiar subject of meditation [kalena
attano kalena parassa assasapassasakaye etenassa pagunakammatthanam atthapetva
aparaparam sañcarana kalo kathito].
Without leaving aside at intervals, nor from time to time
nor occasionally [antarantara na thapetva].
The time when the mind moves repeatedly back and forth. Or
the time when the meditation proceeds incessantly, in the internal and external
phenomena [ajjhatta-bahidha dhammesu pi nirantaram va bhavanaya pavattana kalo].
Both cannot occur at once [eka kale pana idam ubbayam na labbhati].
This pair of things stated in combination as internal and external cannot
be found in the form of an object at one time, simultaneously. It is not
possible to objectify (these two) together is the meaning [ajjhattam bahiddhati
ca vuttam idam dhammadvayaghatitam ekasmim kale, ekato arammanabhavena na
labbhati. Ekajjham alambitum na sakkati attho].
Samudaya-dhammanupassi va kayasamim viharati = "He lives
contemplating origination-things in the body." Just as the air moves back
and forth depending on the smith's bellows' skin, the bellows' spout, and
appropriate effort, so, depending on the coarse body, nasal aperture, and the
mind of the bhikkhu, the respiration-body moves back and forth. The things
beginning with the (coarse) body are origination (kayadayo dhamma samudayo].
The person who sees thus, is he who lives contemplating origination-things in
the body.
Vayadhammanupassi va kayasmim viharati = "Or he lives
contemplating dissolution-things in the body." In whatever way, the air
does not proceed when the bellows' skin is taken off, the bellows' spout is
broken, and the appropriate exertion is absent, even in that same way, when the
body breaks up, the nasal aperture is destroyed, and the mind has ceased to
function, the respiration-body does not go on. Thus through the ending of the
coarse body, the nasal aperture and the mind there comes to be the ending of the
respirations [kayadi-nirodha assasapassasa-nirodho]. The person who sees
in this way, is he who lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body.
Samudaya-vaya-dhammanupassi va kayasmim viharati = "Or he lives
contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body." He lives
contemplating origination at one time and dissolution at another [kalena
samudayam kalena vayam anupassanto].
Origination [samudaya] is that from which suffering arises.
Contemplating origination-things. Possessing the character
of contemplation connected with the coarse body, the nasal aperture and the
mind, the cause of the respirations [assasapassasanam uppatti hetu karaja kayadi
tassa anupassanasilo].
As the contemplation on origination-and-dissolution-things, too, is split
up as regards the scope of the object, it is not possible to objectify both
origination and dissolution at the same time.
Atthi kayoti va panassa sati paccupatthita hoti = "Or, indeed,
his mindfulness is established, with the thought: 'The body exists.'"
Mindfulness is established for the yogi through careful scrutiny. He thinks:
There is the body, but there is no being, no person, no woman, no man, no soul,
nothing pertaining to a soul, no "I", nothing that is mine, no one,
and nothing belonging to anyone [kayoti ca attli, na satto, na puggalo, na
itthi, na puriso, na atta, na attaniyam naham, na mama, na koci, na kassaciti
evam assa sati paccupatthita hoti].
Yavadeva = "To the extent necessary." It denotes purpose.
This is said: The mindfulness established is not for another purpose. What is
the purpose for which it is established?
Nanamattaya patissatimattaya = "For just knowledge and
remembrance." That is just for the sake of a wider and wider, or further
and further measure of knowledge and of mindfulness [aparaparam uttaruttari
ñanapamanatthaya ceva satipamanattha-yaca]. For the increase of mindfulness
and clear comprehension is the meaning.
For the purpose of reaching the knowledge of body-contemplation to the
highest extent [kayanupassana ñanam param pamanam papanatthaya] is the meaning
of: To the extent necessary for just knowledge [yavadeva ñanamattaya].
Anissito ca viharati = "And he lives independent." He lives
emancipated from dependence on craving and wrong views.
With these words is stated the direct opposition of this meditation to the
laying hold on craving and wrong views.
Na ca kiñci loke upadiyati = "And clings to naught in the
world." In regard to no visible shape ..... or consciousness, does he
think: this is my soul; or this belongs to my soul.
Evampi = "Thus also."
With this expression ("Thus also") the Blessed One wound up the
instruction on the section on breathing.
In this section on breathing, the mindfulness which examines the respirations
is the Truth of Suffering. The pre-craving which brings about that mindfulness
is the Truth of Origination. The non-occurrence of both is the Truth of
Cessation. The Real Path which understands suffering, abandons origination, and
takes cessation as object, is the Truth of the Way. Thus having endeavoured by
way of the Four Truths, a person arrives at peace. This is the portal to
emancipation of the bhikkhu devoted to meditation on breathing.
The Section on the Modes of Deportment
The Buddha, after dealing in the aforesaid manner with body-contemplation in
the form of respiration-meditation, in detail, said: "And further," in
order to deal exhaustively with body-contemplation, here, according to the
meditation on the modes of deportment [iriyapatha].
Gacchanto va gacchamiti pajanati = "When he is going (a bhikkhu)
understands: 'I am going.'" In this matter of going, readily do dogs,
jackals and the like, know when they move on that they are moving. But this
instruction on the modes of deportment was not given concerning similar
awareness, because awareness of that sort belonging to animals does not shed the
belief in a living being, does not knock out the percept of a soul, and neither
becomes a subject of meditation nor the development of the Arousing of
Mindfulness.
Going. The term is applicable both to the awareness of the
fact of moving on and to the knowledge of the (true) characteristic qualities of
moving on. The terms sitting, standing and lying down, too, are applicable in
the general sense of awareness and in the particular sense of knowledge of the
(true) characteristic qualities. Here (in this discourse) the particular and not
the general sense of awareness is to be taken.
From the sort of mere awareness denoted by reference to canines and the
like, proceeds the idea of a soul, the perverted perception, with the belief
that there is a doer and an experiencer. One who does not uproot or remove that
wrong perception owing to non-opposition to that perception and to absence of
contemplative practice cannot be called one who develops anything like a subject
of meditation.
But the knowledge of this meditator sheds the belief in a living being,
knocks out the idea of a soul, and is both a subject of meditation and the
development of the Arousing of Mindfulness.
Indeed, who goes, whose going is it, on what account is this going? These
words refer to the knowledge of the (act of) going (the mode of deportment) of
the meditating bhikkhu.
In the elucidation of these questions the following is said: Who goes? No
living being or person whatsoever. Whose going is it? Not the going of any
living being or person. On account of what does the going take place? On account
of the diffusion of the process of oscillation born of mental activity. Because
of that this yogi knows thus: If there arises the thought, "I shall
go," that thought produces the process of oscillation; the process of
oscillation produces expression (the bodily movement which indicates going and
so forth). The moving on of the whole body through the diffusion of the process
of oscillation is called going. The same is the method of exposition as regards
the other postures: standing and so forth. There, too, the yogi knows thus: If
there arises the thought, "I shall stand," that thought produces the
process of oscillation. The process of oscillation produces bodily expression.
The raising upright of the whole body from below owing to the diffusion of the
process of oscillation is called standing. If there arises the thought "I
shall sit," that thought produces the process of oscillation. The process
of oscillation produces bodily expression. The bending of the lower part of the
body and the raising upright of the upper part of the body owing to the
diffusion of the process of oscillation is called sitting. If there arises the
thought, "I shall lie down," that thought produces the process of
oscillation. The process of oscillation produces bodily expression. The
straightening or the spreading of the whole body horizontally or across, owing
to the diffusion of the process of oscillation, is called lying down.
There, who goes? is a doer-question of the action of going, without
first separating efficient cause and action (tattha ko gacchatiti sadhanam kriyañca
avinibbhutam katva gamana kriya kattu puccha]. That is for indicating just the
bare phenomenon of going, through the condition of denying
the-doer-state-endowed-with-a-soul [sa kattubhava visittha atta patikkhepatta
dhamma mattasseva gamana dassanato]. (Or in other words the question "Who
goes?" anticipates a negative answer, for according to the Abhidhamma there
is no doer or goer but just a process dependent on conditions. There is merely a
going. No one goes.)
With the words, whose going is it?, the commentator says the same
thing in another way after separating efficient cause and action for making
clear the absence of a doer-connection [kassa gamananti tamevattham
pariyayantarena vadati sadhanam kriyañca akattu sambandhi bhava vibhavanato].
On what account is it? This is a question for the real
reason of the action of going from which the idea of a goer is rejected. [kim
karanati pana patikkhitta kattukaya gamana kriyaya aviparita karana puccha].
Going is here shown to be one of the particular modes of bare phenomenal
movement due to appropriate cause-and-condition, without attributing it to a
fallacious reason such as the one formulated thus: The soul comes into contact
with the mind, the mind with the sense-organs and the sense-organs with the
object (thus there is perception). [idañhi gamanam nama atta manasa samyujjati
mano indriyehi indriyani atthehiti evamadi miccha karana vinimutta anurupa
paccaya hetuko dhammanam pavatti akara viseso[20]].
No living being or person, because of the proving of the
going of only a bare phenomenon and because of the absence of anyone besides
that phenomenon. Now to show proof of the going of a bare phenomenon the words
beginning with on account of the diffusion of the process of oscillation born
of mental activity were spoken by the commentator [dhammamattasseva
gamanasiddhito tabbinimuttasa ca kassaci abhavato idani dhammamattasseva gamana
siddhim dassetum citta kriya vayo dhatu vippharenati adi vuttam].
There mental activity and the diffusion and agitation in the process of
oscillation which is mental activity = diffusion of the process of mental
activity [tattha citta kriya ca vippharo vipphandanañcati citta kriya vayo
dhatu vippharo]. The commentator, by mentioning mental activity, eschews the
diffusion of the process of oscillation connected with inanimate things, and by
the mention of the diffusion of the process of oscillation eschews the class of
mental activity producing volitional verbal-expression. By the terms mental
activity and the process of oscillation, the commentator makes clear bodily
expression [tena ettha ca citta kriyaggahanena anindriyabaddha vayodhatu
vippharam nivatteti: vayodhatu vippharaggahanena cetana vaciviññatti bhedam
citta kriyam nivatteti. Ubhayena pana kaya viññattim vibhaveti].
Produces the process of oscillation. Brings about the group
of materiality with the quality of oscillation in excess.
This group of materiality is that of the pure octad consisting of the Four
Great Primaries [mahabhuta] symbolized by earth, water, fire and air, and the
four derived from these: colour, smell, taste and nutritive essence [pathavi apo
tejo vayo vanna gandha rasa oja].
Excess is to be taken here by way of capability (adequacy or
competency) and not by way of measure (size or amount).
The process of oscillation produces expression. This was
said concerning the process of oscillation arisen from the thought of going.
This process is a condition to the supporting with energy, the bearing up, and
the movement of the conascent body of materiality.
Expression is that change which takes place together with
the intention.
Oscillation is mentioned by way of a predominant condition [adhika
bhava] and not by way of production through oscillation alone. Otherwise the
state of derived materiality pertaining to expression would not be a fact [aññatha
viññattiya upadaya rupa bhavo durupapado siya].
He who knows (that by the diffusion of this process of oscillation born of
mental activity take place going, standing, sitting and lying down) pursues the
line of thinking (called investigation) in the following manner: "A living
being goes," "A living being stands," (according to the false
belief of those unacquainted with the reality of the matter or according to
conventional speech), but there is no living being going or standing. This talk
of a living being going or standing is similar to speech in the following way:
"A cart goes." "A cart stands." In fact there is no going
cart and no standing cart. When with bulls (tied to a cart) a skilled driver is
driving, one conventionally speaking says: "A cart goes" or "A
cart stands." In the sense of a thing not able to go of itself, the body is
like the cart. Mind-born oscillation are like the bulls. Mind is like the
driver. When the thought, "I go," or the thought "I stand,"
arises, the process of oscillation producing expression comes to existence. By
the diffusion of the process of oscillation born of mental activity, going and
the other modes of deportment take place, and then there are these forms of
conventional speech: "A living being goes," "A living being
stands," "I go," "I stand." Therefore the commentator
said:
Just as a ship goes on by winds impelled,
Just as a shaft goes by the bowstring's force,
So goes this body in its forward course
Full driven by the vibrant thrust of air.
As to the puppet's back the dodge-thread's tied
So to the body-doll the mind is joined
And pulled by that the body moves, stands, sits.
Where is the living being that can stand,
Or walk, by force of its own inner strength,
Without conditions that give it support?
Accordingly this yogi, who considers by way of causes and conditions, the
states of going, standing and so forth, knows well that he is going, when he is
in the state of going, that he is standing when he stands, that he is sitting
when he sits, and that he is lying down when he lies down, as it is told in the
passage in the discourse beginning with the words: "When he is going, a
bhikkhu understands: 'I am going.'"
Yatha yatha va panassa kayo panihito hoti tatha tatha nam pajanati =
"Or just as his body is disposed so he understands it."
Iti ajjhattam va = "Thus internally." In this way the
bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body, examining his own four modes
of deportment.
Bahiddha va = "Or externally." Or examining the four modes
of deportment of another.
Ajjhatta-bahiddha va = "Or internally and externally." Or
examining at one time his own four modes of deportment and at another time
another's four modes of deportment, he lives.
Samudaya-dhammanupassi = "Contemplating origination-things."
Also dissolution-things are included here. Origination and dissolution should be
dwelt upon by way of the fivefold method beginning with the words: "He,
thinking 'the origination of materiality comes to be through the origination of
ignorance,' in the sense of the origin of conditions, sees the arising of the
aggregate of materiality."
In the same way he sees the arising of the aggregate of materiality
through the origination of craving, karma and food, in the sense of the origin
of conditions, and also while seeing the sign of birth [nibbatti lakkhana
passanto pi]. He sees the passing away of the aggregate while thinking that the
dissolution of materiality comes to be through the dissolution of ignorance, in
the sense of the dissolution of conditions, and through the dissolution of
craving, karma and food, in the same way, and while seeing the sign of
vicissitude [viparinamalakkhana].
For the arising of the materiality-aggregate ignorance, craving, karma and
food are the principal reasons. But these are not all. As it is said that one
sees the arising of the materiality-aggregate when beholding also the
rebirth-sign or the bare origination state called the integration-succession [upacaya
santati] of the various material forms [rupa] becoming manifest in the conscious
flux [saviññanaka santana], owing to ignorance, craving, karma, and nutriment,
and from consciousness [citta] and the process of caloricity [utu], the
knowledge of arising is fivefold.
Similarly the knowledge of passing away or ceasing is fivefold. The sign
of vicissitude or change is the bare state of dissolution [bhanga sabhava]
called impermanency [aniccata].
Atthi kayoti va panassa, sati paccupatthita hoti = "Or, indeed,
his mindfulness is established with the thought: 'The body exists'." The
exposition of this is to be done in the manner already stated in the preceding
section.
Here, the mindfulness which examines the four modes of deportment is the
Truth of Suffering. The pre-craving which brings about that mindfulness is the
Truth of Origination. The non-occurrence of either is the Truth of Cessation.
The Real Path which understands suffering, abandons origination, and takes
cessation as object, is the Truth of the Way.
The yogi having endeavoured thus by way of the Four Truths, arrives at peace.
This is the portal to emancipation up to arahantship of the bhikkhu occupied
with the four modes of deportment.
After explaining body-contemplation in the form of the meditation on the four
modes of deportment, the Master said, "And further," to explain
body-contemplation by way of the four kinds of clear comprehension [catu
sampajañña].
On who is clearly comprehending [sampajano] is one who knows according to
every way, intensively, or (item by item) in a detailed way [samantato pakarehi
pakattham va savisesam janati]. Clear comprehension [sampajaññam] is the state
of that one. It is likewise the knowledge of that one [tassa bhavo sampajaññam.
Tatha pavatta ñanam].
Abhikkante patikkante = "In going forwards (and) in going
backwards." Here, the meaning is as follows: -- Going forwards is called
going. Going backwards is called turning back. Both these are to be found in all
the four modes of deportment.
Going, here, is going after turning back (returning) and going after not
turning back (going straight). Turning back is the bare fact of turning back.
This dyad is only mutually supported action [gamanañcettha nivattetva
anivatteva ca gamanam. Nivattanam pana nivatti mattameva. Aññamaññamupadana
kriya mattañ-cetam dvatayam].
First, in going, carrying the body to a position in front -- bringing the
body along -- is called going forwards. Turning back -- returning thence
-- is called turning back.
And in standing, one just standing and bending the body to a position in
front does what is called going forwards, and one bending away behind -- drawing
back -- does what is called going backwards. In sitting down, one sitting
and moving on -- creeping on, sliding on -- to front portion comprising
the frame and so forth of the seat, i.e., chair, stool or similar thing, does
going forwards; and one moving away -- sliding back -- to the parts
comprising the frame and so forth at the back of the chair or stool does what is
called turning back. In lying down too the explanation is to be done according
to the method stated above.
Sampajanakari = "Practising clear comprehension." Doing
without fail all actions with clear comprehension [sampajaññena sabba kicca
kari]. Or the doing of only clear comprehension [sampajaññasseva va
kari].
Clear comprehension [sampajananam] = comprehending clearly [sampajanam].
Both words mean the same thing; their difference is only one of affix. Doing
without fail all actions with clear comprehension is the character of doing
what ought to be done by oneself, with clear comprehension [attana kattabba
kiccassa karana sila]. The doing of only clear comprehension is the
character of practising clear comprehension [sampajanassa karana sila].
For the yogi practices only clear comprehension and is nowhere bereft of
clear comprehension, in going forwards and going backwards.
There are these four kinds of comprehension: clear comprehension of purpose [satthaka
sampajañña], of suitability [sappaya sampajañña], of resort [gocara
sampajañña], and of non-delusion [asammoha sampajañña].
The discerning of things rightly, entirely and equally is clear
comprehension. Nothing else. This way of explanation is different from the
commentary's. As it provides non-delusion in going forwards and backwards, the
action of clear comprehension is practice of clear comprehension. Who has that
practice of clear comprehension is (one) practising clear comprehension.
What takes place together with the aim called growth according to the
Dhamma is purpose. The clear comprehension of purpose in going forwards and
backwards is clear comprehension of purpose. The clear comprehension of what is
suitable, fit, to oneself is clear comprehension of suitability. The clear
comprehension of the (mental) resort which is called the subject of meditation
that is unrelinquished, in going backwards and forwards on the alms resort and
elsewhere, is the clear comprehension of resort. Clear comprehension of
non-delusion is non-delusion that is clearly comprehending and is called
non-stupefaction.
Among these four kinds of clear comprehension, the clear comprehension of
purpose is the comprehension of (a worthy) purpose after considering what is
worthy and not worthy, with the thought, "Is there any use to one by this
going or is there not?" One does this not having gone immediately, just by
the influence of the thought, at the very moment the thought of going forwards
is born.
In this context, purpose is growth according to the Dhamma, by way of
visiting a relic shrine, Tree of Enlightenment (Bodhi Tree), the Sangha, the
elders, and a place where the dead are cast (a cemetery) for seeing the unlovely
(a corpse, a skeleton and the like).
By visiting a relic shrine, a Bodhi Tree, or the Sangha, for producing
spiritual interest, and by meditating on the waning of that interest one could
reach arahantship; by visiting elders and by getting established in their
instruction one could reach arahantship; and by visiting a place where the dead
are cast, by seeing a corpse there and by producing the first absorption (pathamajjhana]
in that unlovely object, one could reach arahantship. So the visiting of these
is purposeful.
Arahantship. This is mentioned by way of the highest kind of
exposition. Since the generating of quietude and insight too is growth according
to the Dhamma for a bhikkhu.
Some [keci] however say: Increase by way of material gain, too, is (a worthy)
purpose, since material gain is helpful for the holy life.
Some = Dwellers at the Abhayagiri Vihara at Anuradhapura.
Material gain = Material requisites like robes.
Clear comprehension of suitability is the comprehension of the suitable after
considering what is suitable and not.
For instance, the visiting of a relic shrine could be quite (worthily)
purposeful. But when a great offering is made to a relic shrine, a multitude of
people in a ten or twelve yojana area gather, and men and women according to
their position go about adorned like painted figures. And if in that crowd greed
could arise for the bhikkhu in an attractive object, resentment in a
non-attractive one, and delusion through prejudice; if he could commit the
offence of sexual intercourse; or if harm could come to the holy life of purity;
then, a place like that relic shrine would not be suitable. When there could be
no such harm it would be suitable.
Prejudice [asamapekkhana] is the name given to the
grasping of an object without wise reflection by way of worldly ignorant
complacency [gehasita aññanupekkha vasena arammanassa ayoniso gahanam].
Commit the offence of sexual intercourse by way of bodily
contact with a woman.
Harm come to the life through trampling down by an elephant
and so forth.
(Harm come to) purity through seeing those of the opposite
sex and so forth.
The visiting of the Savgha is a purpose of worth. Still when there is
all-night preaching in a big pandal in the inner village and there are crowds
and one could possibly come to hurt and harm in the way mentioned earlier, that
place of preaching is not suitable to go to. When there is no hurt or harm
possible one may go there as it would then be suitable. In visiting elders who
are surrounded by a large following suitability and non-suitability should also
be determined in the way stated above.
To visit a place where the dead are cast for beholding a corpse is fit, and
to explain the meaning of this the following story has been told:
It is said that a young bhikkhu went with a novice to get wood for
tooth-cleaners. The novice getting out of the road proceeded in front to a place
in search of wood and saw a corpse. Meditating on it he produced the first
absorption, and making the factors of the absorption a basis for developing
insight realized the first three fruitions of arahantship, while examining the
conformations [sankhare sammasanto], and stood having laid hold of the subject
of meditation for realizing the path of full arahantship.
The young bhikkhu not seeing the novice called out to him. The novice thought
thus: From the day I took up the homeless life I have endeavoured to let me
never be called twice by a bhikkhu, so, I will produce the further distinction
(of full arahantship) another day, and replied to the bhikkhu with the words:
"What's the matter, reverend sir?" "Come," said the bhikkhu
and the novice returned. The novice told the bhikkhu as follows: "Go first
by this way: then stand facing north, at the place I stood, for a while and
look." The young bhikkhu followed the novice's instruction and attained
just the distinction reached by the novice. Thus the same corpse became
profitable to two people. For the male the female corpse is not suitable, and
vice versa. Only a corpse of one's own sex is suitable. Comprehension of what is
suitable in this way is called the clear comprehension of suitability.
Further, the going on the alms round of that one who has thus comprehended
purpose and suitability after leaving and taking up just that resort -- among
the thirty-eight subjects of meditation -- called the subject of meditation
after his own heart is clear comprehension of resort.
Subject of meditation [kammatthana] refers to the object of
concentration by way of locality of occurrence of the contemplative action that
is being stated.
Resort [gocara]. Literally, pasturing ground. This word is
applied to the wandering for alms of a bhikkhu and to the subject of meditation
in the sense of the locus [sphere, range or scope) of contemplative action.
For making manifest this clear comprehension of resort the following set of
four should be understood: In the Dispensation of the Buddha a certain bhikkhu
on the journey out for alms takes along with him in the mind the subject of
meditation, but on the journey back from the work of alms-gathering he does not
bring it along with him, having become unmindful of it. Another does not take it
along with him on the outward journey, but returns from the alms-tour with the
subject of meditation in his mind. Still another neither takes it along with him
on the outward journey nor returns with it on the journey home. And, lastly,
there is the fourth kind of bhikkhu who both takes the subject of meditation
along with him on the journey out for alms and brings it back with him on the
journey home.
Among these four kinds, there is a certain bhikkhu who lives thus: -- By day
he cleanses his mind of things that becloud -- the hindrances [nivarana] -- through
meditation on the ambulatory and in the sitting posture. By night, likewise, on
the ambulatory and in the sitting posture, through meditation, in the first
watch, and in the last watch, he cleanses his mind of things that becloud, after
sleeping in the middle watch.
Quite early in the day having done the duties connected with the terraces of
the relic-shrine and the Bhodhi-tree -- sweeping and so forth -- he sprinkles
the Bodhi-tree with water, places water for drinking and washing and attends to
the Khandhaka duties beginning with the duties connected with the teacher and
the preceptor. Thereafter, having looked to the needs of his body -- that is,
after bestowing that attention on the body which consists of washing the face
and so forth -- he enters his dwelling and practices the subject of
meditation begun that day [tadahe mula bhutam kammatthanam], at several
sittings [dve tayo pallanke usumam gahapento = during two or three
sittings while the body happens to be put into a state of warming up]. There two
or three sittings = two or three sitting turns [dve tayo nisajjavare]. Warming
up is said concerning the matter of causing warmth to be taken up twice or
thrice [dve tini unhapanani sandhaya vuttam]. The word sitting [pallanka]
means sitting by way of the thigh-bound or locked posture [urubaddha asana]. It
is the posture called the lion-pose [sihasana] and the firm pose [thirasana]. It
is the sitting down of one with the left foot crossed on to the right thigh and
the right foot on to the left thigh, by way of interlocking, through the bending
of the thighs
(One sits in meditation not for a long time at a stretch. There are short
intervals of relaxation through brief changes of posture when the body gets warm
or uncomfortable in the cross-legged sitting pose.)
When it is time to wander for alms, he having got up from the sitting
meditation-pose, and takes his bowl and robe with just the thought of meditation
uppermost in mind [kammatthana siseneva] leaves his dwelling, attending
only to the thought of meditation [kammatthanam manasikarontova].
With just the thought of meditation uppermost in mind = Just
with the subject of meditation in the forefront of the mind [kammatthana
mukheneva], keeping to the thought of meditation [kammatthanam avijahanto].
If, when going to his alms collecting place, the bhikkhu's thought of
meditation is contemplation on the Buddha's qualities [buddhanussati
kammatthanam], he, on arriving at the relic-shrine, enters the shrine's
precincts, without having put aside his thought of meditation on the Buddha. But
should his thought of meditation be something other than the Buddha-subject, he
having stood at the foot of the stairway leading to the shrine-terrace, put by
his thought of meditation as if it were goods hand-carried, and acquired the joy
begotten of the Buddha-subject of meditation, goes up the stairway.
If the relic-shrine is a big one, it should be worshipped at four places,
when the bhikkhu has gone round it three times to the right.
If it is a small shrine, it should be worshipped by the meditator in eight
places when he has gone round it three times to the right just as in the case of
the big shrine.
By a bhikkhu who, having worshipped a relic-shrine, has reached a Bodhi-tree
shrine even the Bodhi-tree should be worshipped. And he should worship the Bodhi-tree
showing meek demeanour as though he were in the very presence of the Buddha, the
Bhagava.
In this way, that monk, having worshipped relic-shrine and Boddhi-tree
shrine, goes to the place where he had put by his first subject of meditation,
namely, to the bottom of the stairway. There, having taken up the subject of
meditation he had put by earlier, and robed himself (with the upper robe and the
shoulder cloak held together and worn as one, that is, with the upper robe
falling within the shoulder-cloak at all edges), near the village with the
thought of meditation uppermost in mind, he enters the village for alms.
There, people, after seeing the bhikkhu, say: "Our venerable one has
come," and having gone forward to meet the bhikkhu, taken his bowl,
conducted him to the sitting-hall (hall where meals are served to the bhikkhus
in a village) or to a house and made him take a seat, offer gruel to him.
Thereafter, they wash and anoint his feet, and till rice is ready sit in front
of him and ask him questions or become desirous of listening to a talk on the
Dhamma from him. Even if the people do not ask him to speak to them on the
Dhamma, the commentators say that a talk on the Dhamma should be given to the
people in order to help them. The bhikkhus should expound the Dhamma for the
purpose of assisting the folk with the grace of the Dhamma, thinking, "If I
do not expound the Dhamma to them, who will?"
There is no Dhamma-talk separate from the thought of meditation. This is
said to strengthen the dictum of the commentators mentioned above.
Therefore, after expounding the Dhamma even with the thought of meditation
uppermost in mind, after partaking of the food, with just the thought of
meditation uppermost in mind he leaves the village followed by the people who in
spite of his requesting them to stop accompanying him. There, after turning back
those who followed him, he takes the road to his dwelling-place.
After expounding the Dhamma even with the thought of meditation
uppermost in mind = After expounding the Dhamma just in accordance
with the character of the thought of meditation that is being attended to by
oneself, by way of sticking to that thought. The method of exegesis is the same
in regard to the next expression concerning food. After giving thanks. Here
too the governing expression is: Even with the thought of meditation
uppermost in mind. There, just at the place of departure from the
village. The point at which the bhikkhu actually gets out of the village.
Then, novices and young bhikkhus who had taken their meal outside the
village, having left the village earlier than this bhikkhu see this bhikkhu
coming. And they, after going forward to meet him, take his bowl and robe.
It is said that bhikkhus of old did this duty without looking at the face of
the returning bhikkhu and thinking: (this is) our preceptor (or) our teacher. In
ancient times, they did this duty according to the arriving-limit (the arriving
division, section, or company). As the elder bhikkhu came the younger ones
performed this duty not looking to see who the elder was.
Those novices and young bhikkhus question the elder thus: "Reverend Sir,
who are these people to you? Are they relatives on the maternal side? Are they
relatives on the paternal side?" -- "Having seen what, do you
query?" -- "Their affection and respect for you." --
"Friends, what even parents find it hard to do these people do for us. Our
very robes and bowls are just due to them. Owing to these people we know no fear
on occasions of fear and know no lack of food on occasions of famine. There are
no people so helpful to us as these folk." Speaking well of these people,
thus, he goes. This bhikkhu is spoken of as a person who carries forth (takes
along with him) the subject of meditation when he leaves his dwelling but does
not return with the thought of meditation.
If to a bhikkhu who performs the duties detailed above, betimes, (there
arises an intense feeling of discomfort owing to hunger) if his kamma-produced
caloricity becomes very strong (pajjalati, lit, flames up and lays hold of the
derived, assimilated material of the body owing to the absence of undigested
food in the stomach, if sweat exudes from his body and if he is unable to
concentrate on his subject of meditation, he takes his bowl and the robe quite
early in the morning, worships the relic shrine speedily, and enters the village
to get gruel just when the village herds go out of their pens for pasturing.
After he gets the gruel he goes to sitting-hall and drinks it.
Then, with the swallowing of just two or three mouthfuls, the kamma-produced
caloricity letting go the material of the body -- i.e., the inner lining of
the stomach [udara patalam] lays hold of the property of the food taken in.
And that bhikkhu, having got to the assuagement of the distress of the
caloric process like a man bathed with a hundred pots of cool water, having
partaken of the (rest of the) gruel with the thought of meditation uppermost in
mind, washed bowl and mouth, attended to the subject of meditation till the
later forenoon meal, wandered for alms in the remaining places -- in the
places where he got no gruel and so where he could still go for alms -- and
taken the meal with just the thought of meditation uppermost in mind, returns,
having taken up just that subject of meditation which is thence forward present
in his mind. This person is called the one who does not carry forth but returns
with the thought of meditation.
Kamma-produced caloricity [kammajja tejo] is an expression
referring to the function of that part of the alimentary tract where the bile
helps digestion and from which vital heat spreads -- the grahani according to
Ayurveda. It is stated that the commentator said kamma-produced caloricity
concerning "the seizure," the name of the alimentary function
explained above [gahanim sandhayaha].
Becomes very strong means: generates a condition of heat.
Subject of meditation does not get on to the road of contemplative
thought owing to the disappearance of concentration of the wearied
body through hunger-fatigue.
When in the stomach, indeed, property like cooked rice (called the
underived, the unassimilated or that which is not due to pre-clinging) is
absent; kamma-produced caloricity gets hold of the inner lining of the stomach.
That causes the utterance of words like the following: "I am hungry; give
me food."
When food is taken, kamma-produced caloricity having let go the inner
lining of the stomach, gets hold of the food-property. Then the living being
becomes calm. Therefore in the commentaries kamma-produced caloricity is spoken
of as (a malignant spirit, a devourer of the living, frequenting pools,
fording-places and the like and known by the shadow it casts on the water) a
shadow-demon.
And bhikkhus, like this one, who, after drinking gruel and exerting
themselves in the development of insight, reached the state of Arahantship in
the Buddha's Dispensation are past all numbering (so many have they been). In
the Island of the Lion Race, alone [sihala dipe yeva], there is not a seat of
sitting-hall in the various villages which is not a place where a bhikkhu,
having sat and drunk gruel, attained Arahantship (tesu tesu gamesu
asanasalaya na tam asanam atthi yattha yagum pivitva arahattam patta bhikkhu
natthi].
"And bhikkhus, like this one," and so forth. With these words
the commentator points out the state of benefit of the bhikkhu attending to the
thoughts of meditation, even, in the way aforesaid.
But a bhikkhu who is a loose liver [pamada vihari, lit. liver in
negligence, carelessness or indolence], who is a slacker [nikkhitta dhuro,
lit. One who has thrown away the yoke -- or the burden of right exertion -- and
so is an irresponsible person], having broken all observances [sabba vattani
bhinditva] whilst living spiritually frozen through the fivefold bondage of
mind [pañca vidha ceto vinibandha baddha citto viharanto], having
entered the village for alms without having even shown a sign of the fact that
there is a thing called a subject of meditation (of contemplation), and having
walked about and eaten his meal in unbefitting company, comes out of the village
an empty fellow. This bhikkhu is called a person who neither carries forth nor
returns with the thought of meditation.
Who is spoken of with the words "This one carries forth and carries
back" must be known just through the means of the observance of carrying
forth and carrying back (the subject of meditation from the beginning to the end
of the journey to and from the village).
Just through the means of the observance of carrying forth and carrying
back means: By way of whatsoever going for and returning from
alms-gathering only with the thought of meditation.
Men of good family, desirous of self-improvement, having become homeless ones
in the Dispensation of the Buddha, when living in a group of ten, twenty, fifty
or a hundred make a covenant of observance, with these words: "Friends, you
renounced not because you were troubled by creditors, not because of fear of
punishment from the king, and not because of difficulties of subsistence
produced by famine and the like, but because you were desirous of release here.
Therefore, you should restrain the defilement that is born when going (forwards
or backwards) just in the process of going; you should restrain the defilement
that is born when standing just in the process of standing; you should restrain
the defilement that is born when sitting just in the process of sitting; and you
should restrain the defilement that is born when lying down just in the process
of lying down.
When after the making of such a covenant of observance they go on to a
village for alms, if there are stones, by the road, at distances of half-an-usabha,
one usabha and one gavuta, these bhikkhus proceed attending to the subject of
meditation with awareness of those stones. If in the course of going (for alms)
a defilement of the mind arises in one, just in the course of going one
restrains or suppresses it. If one fails to do so one stops. Then he who comes
behind one stops too. And one thinks: "This bhikkhu here knows the unclean
thought that has arisen in you; unbecoming is that to you." Thus having
reproved oneself and developed penetrative insight, one steps into the Plane of
the Noble Ones (i.e., arahantship; so ayam bhikkhu tuyham uppanna vitakkam
janati ananucchavikam te etanti paticcodetva vipas sanam vaddhetva tattheva
ariyabhumim okkamati).
If one is not able to do that, one sits down and he who comes behind sits
down too, it is said: that just is the method. Should one be not able to enter
into the Plane of the Noble Ones, then, one having stopped the defilement, goes,
attending to only the subject of meditation. One does not raise the foot with
mind bereft of the subject of meditation but should one do so, one, having
turned, gets back again even to the earlier step.
Desirous of self-improvement (atta kamati) -- (Those bhikkhus) wishing for
personal good and well-being (attano hita sukhamicchanta) -- those wishing for
(delighting in, intent on) the Dhamma is the true meaning [dhammacchandavantoti
attho] -- by reason of the fact that the Dhamma is truly good and well-being
[dhammo hi hitam sukhañca tannimittakam]. Or to the wise the Dhamma is the
self owing to the absence of difference (of the Dhamma) from the self, and
(because the Dhamma is contained in the self) owing to the (Dhamma's) state of
being included in the living being [atha va viññanam attato nibbisesatta
attabhava pariyapannatta ca dhammo atta nama]. They (the bhikkhus who have
genuinely renounced, in the Dispensation of the Buddha) desire, wish for, that
(tam kamenti icchanti].[21]
Newly (or recently) -- at the time this sub-commentary was written --
however the reading: desirous of attainment, by way of (moral) good, is seen (adhuna
pana attha kamati hitavacakena attha saddena patho dissati]. The true meaning of
that is: (those) wishing for good that is connected with the Dhamma or (those)
wishing for the Dhamma that is good [dhamma saññuttam hitamicchanta hita
bhutam va dhammamicchantati].
Unbecoming is that means: unbecoming is another's knowing of
one's own defilement [parassa jananam].
This also should be understood as included even by another's knowing:
He (the monk who is trying to overcome the adventitious defilement) makes
systematic attention strong on account of (his awareness of) the hungry
condition of those coming behind (pacchato agacchantanam chinna bhatta bhava
bhayenapi yoniso manasikaram paribruhetiti idampi parassa jananeneva
sangahitanti datthabbam].
Even to the earlier step means: just to the first footprint
made with mind separate from the thought of meditation [purima pade yevati
pathamam kammatthana vippayutta cittena uddharita pada valañje yeva].
Like the elder Maha Phussa, the verandah-dweller. With the stories
beginning, here, the commentator lays low the misgiving about this observance,
for instance, expressed thus: Just impossible is that what is pointed out was,
indeed, in this way, practiced before [atthane yevetam kathitam khvayam evam
patipanna pubboti asankam nivatteti].
It is said that this elder dwelt for nineteen years fulfilling the observance
of "carrying forth and carrying back." Ploughmen, sowers, threshers of
grain and other people having seen the elder go in this manner, said: "This
elder goes having halted again and again. Why does he do so? Has he got confused
about the way or has he forgotten something?"
The elder by just doing the recluse's duty, with mind yoked to the thought of
meditation, without giving heed to the talk of the people, attained Arahantship
within twenty years.
On the very day be became an Arahant, a deva who was living at the end of the
elder's walking path, stood emitting a radiance that came from the fingers of
the deva. The Four Regents of the Earth, Sakka the deva-king and Brahma
Sahampati came to serve the elder. Maha Tissa the forest-dweller, also an elder,
saw that radiance and inquired of the arahant the next day: "Last night,
there was a radiance about your reverence; what was that?"
Diverting the talk, the arahant said: "Radiance is that of light, of gem
and the like." But on being pressed repeatedly with the words: "You
are concealing," he acknowledged, saying, "Yes" and informed
Tissa of his attainment.
Like the elder Maha Naga of the Black Creeper Pavilion. He, it is said, when
fulfilling the observance of carrying forth and back the subject of meditation,
resolved upon keeping to only the postures of standing and of walking for seven
years, with the thought: "I will honour the Blessed One's great
struggle." And after fulfilling for sixteen years again the observance of
carrying forth and carrying back the subject of meditation, he attained
Arahantship.
This is said of him: He (when going out for alms to the village) raises his
foot only with mind yoked to the subject of meditation. If he raises with mind
not yoked thus, he turns back again. After standing at such a distance from the
village as would raise (in the mind of one looking from the village) the doubt:
"Is it indeed a cow or a recluse?" and robing himself, he fills his
mouth with a draught of water from the water-carrier slung over the shoulder and
hanging under the armpit, having washed the bowl with water from the same
source. For what reason does he fill his mouth so? He does it thinking:
"Let there be no distraction of the mind even by the uttering of the words:
'May you live long!' to people coming to worship me or give me alms." But
when he is asked the question, "Reverend Sir, which stage of the half-month
is today?" concerning the date, or when he is questioned about the number
of monks, he answers, after swallowing the water. If there is no questioning
about the day and so forth, he having spat out the water, at the village gate,
at the time of leaving, goes.
Like the fifty bhikkhus who entered upon the rainy season residence, at the
Monastery of the Galamba Landing Place.
On the full-moon day of July (asalha), they made this covenant of
observance: -- "Without attaining Arahantship we shall not converse with
one another."
These bhikkhus used to enter the village for alms filling the mouth with a
draught of water, and when questioned about the date and so forth they acted
just according to the method mentioned above.
In that village people, having seen the spots on which mouthfuls of water had
been spurted forth by the returning bhikkhus, said: "Today one came; today,
two," And those people thought: "What indeed is the reason that these
bhikkhus neither talk with us nor with each other? If they do not speak with
each other, surely, they are persons who have had a dispute amongst
themselves," and saying: "Come, we must make them forgive one
another," went -- in a body -- to the monastery. There, they saw that no
two bhikkhus were in the same place. Then a wise man in that crowd said:
"Good people, a place which quarrelsome folk occupy is not like this. The
relic-shrine and the Bodhi-shrine terraces are well swept. The brooms are well
arranged. And water for drinking and water for washing are well set." Then
those people just turned back. And the bhikkhu of that monastery attained
Arahantship within three months and performed a Pure Pavarana ceremony.
Diverting the talk = Turning away the talk because of
unostentatiousness due to Realization [adhigamappichiccha-taya]. Keeping to
only the postures of standing and walking: This is said by way of the
postures proper to be resolved upon for adherence. One restricts oneself to
these postures not however by way of refusing to practice the proper-to-be-practiced
and necessary posture of sitting at meal-time and on such other occasions; for,
by the word, only, it should be understood that one tops the remaining forms of
sitting, namely, every sitting-posture not absolutely necessary of practice, and
the posture of lying down.
I will honour the Blessed One's great struggle. According to
my strength, I will do worship to the six-year asceticism of extreme torture
undertaken by the World's Redeemer for our sakes, since even the honouring of
the Master, through conduct, is the more praiseworthy kind of worship. Not so
praiseworthy is the worship (of him) with material things.
Pure pavarana. The Pavarana through the state of destruction
of the outflowings -- Arahantship [khinasava bhavena pavaranam].
Thus like the elder Maha Naga dweller in the Black Creeper Pavilion and like
the bhikkhus who went into rainy season at the Galamba Ford Monastery, the
bhikkhu (who does the observance of carrying forth and carrying back the subject
of meditation) raises his foot only with mind yoked to the thought of
meditation. Having reached the neighbourhood of the village, filled the mouth
with a draught of water, and looked at the streets, he enters the street where
there are no quarrelsome drunkards, gamesters and such folk or where there are
no restive elephants, horses and the like.
There, wandering for alms, he does not go speedily like one in a great hurry
since there is no ascetic practice of begging food, speedily. He goes, rather,
having become motionless, like a water cart on uneven ground. Entering into each
house in order, spending such time as is suitable for concluding whether there
is or not the tendency to offer alms (on the part of the occupants of each
house), he receives alms, and comes to the inner village, outer village or even
to the monastery. There he seats himself in a place pleasant and good (proper),
attends to the thought of meditation with the setting up of the perception of
loathsomeness in food, and reflects by way of the similes of axle-greasing,
applying ointment to ulcer and feeding on own child's flesh, and eats the food
fully followed with awareness of the eight attributes, (and) not for sport,
intoxication, adornment or the filling up of those places of his body that have
a deficiency of flesh.
And he, having eaten, washes. Then he rests for a while the body that is
tired with the business of eating. He attends to just the thought of meditation,
in the time after eating as in the time before eating, and in the last watch of
the night as in the first watch.
This person is called one who carries forth and carries back the subject of
meditation.
The person who fulfils this observance of one who carries forth and carries
back, called the carrying forth (of the thought of meditation) when going out
for alms and the bringing back (of the thought of meditation) when returning
from the alms-round, reaches Arahantship even in the period of youth (i.e.,
early age or the first stage of life), if he is possessed of the sufficing
condition, the wherewithal to accomplish the destruction of ignorance and its
defilements.
If he fails to reach Arahantship, in early age, then he reaches it in middle
age; if he fails in middle age, then at the time of death; if he fails at the
time of death, then, after becoming a deva; if he fails as a deva, then, at a
time when no Buddha has appeared on earth, he is born as a man and realizes the
truth as a Buddha who is not able to communicate the truth to others; and if he
fails to realize the truth in that way, then, immediately on meeting a Fully
Enlightened Buddha he becomes a person who intuits quickly like the elder Bahiya
Daruciriya, or a greatly wise one like the elder Sariputta, or one of great
psychic power like the elder Mogallana the Great, or an exponent of ascetic
practice like the elder Kassapa the Great, or one endowed with clairvoyant power
like the elder Anuruddha, or an expert in discipline like the elder Upali or an
expounder of the Dhamma like the elder Punna Mantaniputta, or a forest dweller
like the elder Revata, or one of great learning like the elder Ananda, or one
desirous of training like the elder Rahula, the Buddha's son.
Amongst these four that form the set, he who carries forth and carries back
the subject of meditation reaches the crest of the clear comprehension of
resort.
Further, non-confusion in going forwards and so forth is the clear
comprehension of non-delusion. That should be understood in the following way:
-- In this Dispensation, a monk, without confusing himself, like a blinded
worldling who, while going forwards or backwards, becomes muddle-headed, and
believes thus: "The soul (or self) goes forward" or "The act of
going forwards is produced by the soul," or "I go forwards" or
"The act of going forwards is produced by me," and the like, thinks:
"When there is the arising in one of the thought 'I am going forwards,'
just with that thought, appears the process of oscillation originating from mind
which brings to birth bodily expression (or intimation). Thus by the way of the
diffusion of the process of oscillation due to mental activity, this skeleton
called the body goes forward."
In raising up the foot A [paduddharane] two processes [dhatuyo]:
extension [pathavi] and cohesion [apo], are low, weak [omatta
honti dubbala], and the other two processes: caloricity [tejo] and
oscillation [vayo] are high, powerful [adhimatta honti balavatiyo];
so, too, in stretching out the foot B [atiharane] and in shifting away
the foot C [vitiharane]. But in dropping down the raised foot D
[vossajjane], and likewise in keeping the foot on the ground E [sannikkhepane]
and in pressing the foot against the ground F [sannirumbhane] the
first two processes are high and powerful and the second, low and weak. There,
the material and mental phenomena in A do not occur in B; those in
B do not occur in C; those in C do not occur in D;
those in D do not occur in E; those in E do not occur in F.
These phenomena after coming into existence in the form of several sections,
links, and parts, break quickly just in those places, crackling like sesamum
seeds thrown into a heated pan. In this matter, who is the one that goes
forward, or whose going forward is there? In the highest sense (paramatthato)
what takes place is the going, the standing, the sitting down and the lying down
of the processes. With material form in the several divisions (groups or parts),
One conscious state arises
And quite another ceases,
In sequence, like a river's flow,
These states (of mind and matter) go.
(aññam uppajjate cittam aññam cittam nirujjhati
avicimanusambandho nadi soto va vattati].
Low [omatta] = Negligible [avamatta], poor in regard to
standard [lamakappamana].
Since the process of caloricity with (its cognate process) oscillation
coming (as a servant or follower) behind it [vayo dhatuya anugata tejo dhatu] is
the condition for upraising [uddharanassa paccayo], caloricity and oscillation
are in preponderance, by reason of capability, in the action of upraising.
Caloricity is specially conducive to the action of upraising and so in upraising
oscillation is subordinate to caloricity. The processes of extension and
cohesion are low in the action of upraising owing to their incapacity to raise
up.
Since the process of oscillation with (its cognate process) caloricity
coming (as a servant or follower) behind it [tejo dhatuya anugata vayo dhatu] is
the condition for stretching out and shifting away [atiharana vitiharananam
paccayo], oscillation and caloricity are in preponderance by reason of
capability, in stretching out and shifting away. Oscillation is naturally active
and because in the actions of stretching out and shifting away its movement is
excessive, caloricity is subordinate to oscillation in these actions. The other
two processes are low in stretching out and shifting away because of the
incapacity of these processes to stretch out and to shift away.
Raising up is the lifting of a foot from a place already
stepped on to.
Stretching out is the carrying of a foot to the front from
the place on which one is standing.
Shifting away is the carrying of a foot sidewards (by moving
it laterally) for the purpose of avoiding stake and the like or for avoiding
contact with the other foot already set on the ground.
Or stretching out is the carrying of a foot (near) to the
place where the other foot is set and shifting away is the carrying of a
foot further to a point beyond the place on which the other foot is.
Since the process of cohesion with (its cognate process) extension coming
(as a servant or follower) behind it [pathavi dhatuya anugata apodhatu] is the
condition for dropping down [vossajjane paccayo], cohesion and extension are in
preponderance by reason of capability in the action of dropping down. The nature
of cohesion is most gravid and so in the laying down of an upraised foot
extension is subordinate to cohesion. Because of their incapacity to drop down
what is upraised the processes of caloricity and oscillation are called low in
this connection.
Since the process of extension with (its cognate process) cohesion coming
(as a servant or follower) behind it [apodhatuya anugata pathavidhatu] is the
condition for the keeping (of a foot) on the ground, extension and cohesion are
in preponderance by reason of capability, in the keeping (of a foot) on the
ground. In keeping the foot on the ground too, as in the state of something
fixed, cohesion is subordinate to extension owing to the excessive functioning
of the latter process.
Cohesion is subordinate to extension also by way of the contactual action
of the process of extension in pressing the foot against the ground.
And here dropping down is lowering by way of relinguishment or
laying down. The setting down, thence, of the foot on the ground and so forth is
keeping the foot on the ground. After keeping the foot on the ground, the
coming to a complete standstill of the action of going, by way of contacting is pressing
the foot against the ground.
There = In this going forward or among the six aforesaid
divisions known as raising up, stretching out, shifting away, dropping down,
keeping down, and pressing against.
In raising up = In the moment of upraising. Material and
mental phenomena = The material phenomena proceeding in the form of
upraising (or through the mode of upraising), and the mental phenomena
originating that materiality do not occur in stretching out by reason of
their existing only for a moment. Throughout, this is the method of exegesis in
this passage.
Just in these places = Wherever, in the divisions beginning
with upraising, phenomena come to be, just in those very places, they perish. To
be sure, owing to swift change there is no going over of phenomena to another
place.
Sections = Division. Links = Joints. Parts =
Portions. And all here is stated concerning the abovementioned divisions of the
action of going which take place in the form of a differentiated serial process.
More fleet than the group of devas running before the Sun's chariot -- the
group of devas in the shape of horses with keen-edged razors attached to their
heads and hoofs, engaged in and taken to going, plunging forwards, some above
and some below, but never knocking against each other, though moving close
together -- is the moment of existence of material phenomena.
As the break-up of sesamum seeds that are roasted takes place almost at
once with the sound of crackling, the destruction of conditioned phenomena takes
place almost at once with phenomena's arising. For, similar to the crackling
sound, the sign of the breaking up of the sesamum seeds, is arising the
sign (indicatory) of the (eventual) breaking up of conditioned phenomena, owing
to the destruction (inevitably and) assuredly of phenomena that have arisen.
Who is the one that goes forward? Just no one. [ko eko
abhikkamati nabhikkamati yeva].
Could it be said: Whose going forward is there? No. Why? In the
highest sense, what takes place is the going, the standing, the sitting down,
and the lying down of the processes.
The passage just mentioned is for dispelling the false idea of a self that
goes forward which a confused blinded worldling is apt to possess or the passage
is stated by way of objection and refutation.
With material form in the several divisions [tasmim tasmim
kotthase rupena saddhim] means: with material form in the aforesaid sixfold
division.
The conscious state of the thought-unit that comes into existence when any
material form comes into existence, runs a course of its own and does not get
into close contact with the material form in question, nor does it get into
repeated contact or relation with that material form. Therefore it is said: one
conscious state arises with material form and quite another ceases when that
material form ceases. By reason of the absence of close or repeated contact [apaccamatthatta]
of mind with matter this happens. Tension, oscillation or vibration of mind is
quicker than that of matter, seventeen times.
The words: with material form in relation to the first sentence of
the stanza mean: with whatsoever material form arising simultaneously with a
conscious state [yena kenaci sahuppajjanakena rupena]. And the same words in
relation to the second sentence of the stanza refer to the material form already
arisen and existing at the starting point of the seventeenth thought-unit that
occurs after the ceasing-phase of the thought-unit with which the aforesaid
material form arose and which material form arisen already has a total duration
from its arising to ceasing of seventeen consecutive thought-units and is
possessed of the nature of ceasing together with the cessation of the
seventeenth thought-unit mentioned above, namely, of the seventeenth
thought-unit in its phase of dissolution or ceasing [dutiya pada sambandhe pana
rupenati idam yam tato nirujjhamana cittato upari sattarasama cittassa
uppadakkhane uppannam tadeva tassa nirujjhamana cittassa niroddhena saddhim
nirujjhanakam sattarasa cittakkhanayukam rupam sandhaya vuttam].
Material and mental phenomena would perhaps be taken as things of equal
duration, if the matter were put in a different way to this. Should these two
kinds of phenomena be wrongly considered as things of equal duration then there
would be contradiction with such commentarial sayings as: "Material form is
slow-changing, is tardy as regards ceasing," and with such textual sayings
as: "I do not see a single thing so swiftly changing, o bhikkhus, as this
mind" [aññatha ruparupadhamma samanayuka siyum yadi ca siyum atha rupam
garu parinamam dandha nirodhanti adi atthakatha vacanehi naham bhikkhave eka
dhammampi samanupassami evam lahu parivattam yathayidam bhikkave cittanti
evamadi pali vacanehi ca virodho siya].
Since the nature of mind and mental characteristics [citta cetasika] is to
cognize or to have objects, mind and mental characteristics arise cognizing [vibhaventa]
according to their strength [yatha balam] the thing become a condition to mind
and mental characteristics, in the form of an object or the thing become an
object-condition to mind and mental characteristics [attano arammana
paccayabhutamattam]. And immediately after the accomplishment or the
effectuating of that which comprises the nature or quality of mind and mental
characteristics, and that quality is just the process of cognizing, there occurs
the ceasing of mind and mental characteristics [tesam sabhava nipphatti
anantaram nirodho].
Material phenomena, however, do not take objects, have no objects [anarammana];
they do no cognizing. Material phenomena have to be cognized [pakasetabba].
Cognizibility's fulfillment [pakasetabba bhava nipphatti] occurs with sixteen
thought-units [solasehi cittehi hoti]. Hence the reduction of material phenomena
to seventeen thought-units, together with the one thought-unit of the past, is
acknowledged, by the commentator, it is said [tasma eka cittakkhanatitena saha
sattarasa cittakkhanayukata rupadhammanam icchitati].
The swift changeability of mind or consciousness [viññanassa
lahuparivattita] takes place through the mere combination of the other three
mental aggregates with variform consciousness [the protean mind] and through the
mere combination of objects with the same consciousness that is replete with
variegation [lahuparivattana viññana visesassa sangati matta paccayataya
tinnam khandhanam visaya sangatimattataya ca].
The state of slow change of material form [rupassa garu parivattita]
occurs owing to the condition of sluggishness of the primaries, namely, of the
processes of extension, cohesion, caloricity and oscillation symbolized by
earth, water, fire and air, respectively [dandha maha bhuta paccayataya].
Only the Tathagata, he who has arrived at the Truth by traversing the
Ancient Road of the Buddhas, has knowledge of the different processes according
to reality [yatha bhutam nana dhatu ñanam kho pana tathagatasseva]. And by
means of that knowledge of the Tathagata, the condition of pre-nascence as just
a material phenomenon is stated. Likewise, by that knowledge of the Tathagata,
the condition of post-nascence, too, is stated. Because of the statement of the
pre-nascent and post-nascent conditions (the idea of) the identity of moment of
occurrence of mental and material phenomena is just not fit. Therefore it was
said by the commentator, the elder Ananda thus: Just according to the method
stated should the meaning be understood here [tena ca pure jata paccayo rupa
dhammova vutto paccha jata paccaya ca tathevati ruparupa dhammanam
samanakkhanata na yujjateva tasma vuttanayenevettha attho veditabboti acariyena
vuttam].
This matter was stated in this way because it is easy to understand the
simultaneity of cessation of mind and bodily or vocal expression [tadetam
cittanuparivattiya viññattiya eka nirodha bhavassa suviññeyyatta evam vuttam].[22]
The meaning should be understood thus: Quite another conscious state
(i.e., thought-units) ceases with the ceasing of the material form arisen at the
starting point of the seventeenth thought-unit which is earlier to the material
form together with expression that is physical, in short, seventeen
thought-units arise and pass away during the life-time of all material form
except those connected with expression [tato saviññattikena puretaram
sattarasama cittassa uppadakkhane uppannena rupena saddhim aññam cittam
nirujjhatiti attho veditabbo].
The passage should be constructed thus: One conscious state ceases and
quite another arises -- i.e., the conscious states at the arising and the
ceasing of material phenomena are different [aññam cittam nirujjhati aññam
uppajjate cittanti yojetabbam]. Indeed one is the word explanation; another is
the explanation of the sense [añño hi saddakkamo añño atthakkamo]. While the
conscious state arisen earlier, in ceasing, it ceases in just the form of
proximity-condition and so forth, to another conscious state arising after it
[yam hi purimuppannam cittam tam nirujjhantam aññassa paccha uppajjamanassa
anantaradi paccaya bhaveneva nirujjhati]. Then another conscious state which has
just obtained a condition, arises [yathaladdha paccayameva aññampi uppajjate
cittam]. And here (mind is) in a different state by reason of the difference of
occasion [avattha visesato cettha aññatha].
2. Clear comprehension in looking straight on and in looking
away from the front
Alokite = "In looking straight on." Vilokite =
"In looking away from the front." Here, looking straight on [alokitam]
= seeing in the direction in front of oneself [purato pekkhanam].
Looking away from the front [vilokitam] = Looking out in all other
directions [anudisa pekkhanam].
And other kinds of seeing, by way of turning the eye in the direction above,
in the direction beneath and in the direction behind are called looking upwards,
looking downwards and looking backwards. Here those are not taken. But just
these two -- looking straight on and looking away from the front -- are taken,
by way of what is befitting. Or, by this method, it is said, all those are also
taken.
By way of what is fitting = In the form of that which is
suitable to a recluse.
Since looking downwards could happen in such actions as sweeping and
plastering the floor with clay and cow-dung, looking upwards in removing
cob-webs and other similar actions, and looking backwards in such actions as the
avoiding of danger coming from behind, it is said, that the commentator uttered
the passage beginning with the words: Or, by this method. By that the
commentator points out that the statement is also one of the kind that implies
what is not expressed -- an elliptical statement.
Here, the comprehending of purpose (in looking straight on), without having
just looked by the force of the thought, when the thought "I shall look
straight on" arises, is clear comprehension of purpose. That should be
understood by making the venerable elder Nanda the example of a person who
perceives through experience by the body [kaya sakkhi].[23]
The following is stated in this connection: "Should looking straight on in
the eastern direction become a thing that must be done, by Nanda, he looks
straight on in the eastern direction, having reflected with all his mind thus:
'May no covetous, grief-producing, mean, unskillful mental phenomena flow upon
(overcome) me while I am looking in the eastern direction.' There, he becomes
mindful, thus." Further, purposefulness and suitability, here, too, should
be understood just according to the manner in which they are explained in
connection with the worshipping of a relic shrine and so forth.
When the venerable elder Nanda was working for insight he slid into an
unfavourable state of mind beginning with boredom in regard to the holy life and
on becoming aware of that state of mind of his, he stirred himself, saying,
"I shall restrain myself well." Then having become energetic and very
conscientious regarding guardedness at the doors of the controlling faculties of
sense, he reached the state of one of great perfection in self-restraint,
through the fulfillment of all duties. By reason of that perfection the Master
placed him in the position of pre-eminence in regard to the controlling faculty
of restraint, with the words: "This one, namely, Nanda, O bhikkhus, is the
chief among my disciples endowed with the controlling faculty of
restraint."
Because clear comprehension of resort is just the keeping to the course of
meditation, looking straight on and looking away from the front
should be done just according to each person's meditation (on the aggregates,
processes and bases or on a contemplation-device and so forth) with the thought
of meditation uppermost in mind.
Within, it is said, there certainly is no self or soul which looks straight
on or looks away from the front. Still, at the arising of the thought "I
shall look straight on," and with that thought the process of oscillation (vayo
dhatu) originating from mind, [citta samutthana] bringing into being bodily
expression [viññatti] arises. Thus owing to the diffusion of the
process of oscillation born of mental activity [cittakiriyavayodhatu vipphara],
the lower eyelid goes down and the upper eyelid goes up. Surely there is no one
who opens with a contrivance.
Thereupon, eye-consciousness arises fulfilling the function of sight [tato
cakkhu viññanam dassana kiccam sadhentam uppajjati], it is said. Clear
comprehension of this kind here is indeed called the clear comprehension of
non-delusion [evam sampajananam panettha asammoha sampajaññam nama].
Further, clear comprehension of non-delusion should be also understood, here,
through accurate knowledge of the root (mula pariñña), through the
casual state (agantuka bhava) and through the temporary state [tavakalika
bhava]. First (is the consideration) by way of the accurate knowledge of the
root: --
There is (first) the mental state of the life-continum,
And (then) there are adverting, seeing, receiving,
Considering, determining, and impulsion
Which is seventh (in cognition's course).
[bhavangavajjanañceva dassanam sampaticchanam
santiranam votthapanam javanam bhavati sattamam].
There, in the course of cognition, the life-continum goes on fulfilling the
function of a (main) factor of the rebirth-process [tattha bhavangam upapatti
bhavassa anga kiccam sadhayamanam pavattati]; after the turning round of the
life-continum, a barely active mind process, fulfilling the function of
adverting or attending to an object at the sense-door of the eye, goes on [tam
avattetva kiriya mano dhatu avajjana kiccam sadhayamana]; from the cessation
of that, fulfilling the function of seeing, eye-consciousness goes on [tannirodha
cakkhu viññanam dassana kiccam sadhayamana]; from the cessation of that, a
resultant mind process, fulfilling the function of receiving, goes on [tannirodha
vipaka mano dhatu sampaticchanna kiccam sadhayamana]; from the cessation of
that, a resultant mind consciousness process, fulfilling the function of
considering, goes on [tannirodha vipaka mano viññana dhatu santirana kiccam
sadhyamana]; from the cessation of that, a barely active mind consciousness
process, fulfilling the function of determining, goes on [tannirodha kiriya
mano viññana dhatu votthapana kiccam sadhayamana]; from the cessation of
that, an impulsion impels seven times [tannirodha sattakkhattum javanam
javati].
Now, among the mental states of the life-continum and so forth or even in the
mental state of the first impulsion, there is no looking straight on or looking
away from the front, by way of lust, hatred or ignorance by him who sees in
any direction. Also there is no such stained vision by him in the mental state
of the second impulsion, the third, the fourth, the fifth, sixth or even in the
seventh impulsion. But when, like soldiers in a battlefield, the mental states,
after breaking-up gradually are fallen, one atop of another, there takes place looking
straight on or looking away from the front, by way of lust, hate and
ignorance, accompanied by the discriminatory thought: "This is a
woman," or "This is a man," much in the same way as the fallen
are distinguished after a battle; for in the frenzy of fighting there is no room
for recognition of the individuals engaged in the fray.[24]
Thus here in the first instance, clear comprehension of non-delusion should
be understood, by way of the accurate knowledge of the root.
The passage beginning with the words: Within, it is said, there
certainly is no self or soul is stated to explain that looking straight
on or looking away from the front is, to be sure, just a variety of
occurrence of even bare phenomena and that therefore clear comprehension of
non-delusion is the knowing of that fact as it really is [yasma pana alokitadi
nama dhamma mattasseva pavatti viseso tasma tassa yathavato jananam asammoha
sampajaññanti dassetum abhantareti adi vuttam].
Accurate knowledge of the root [mula pariñña] = comprehension of the
fundamental reason of impulsion at the mind-door [mano dvarika javanassa mula
karana parijananam].
Through the casual state [agantuka bhava]: through the state of one coming
as a stranger [abbhagata bhava]. Through the temporary state [tavakalika bhava]:
through the state of proceeding only at a certain moment (tam khana matta
pavattakassa bhava].
Fulfilling the function of a (main) factor of the rebirth-process means:
accomplishing the principal work of a link; what is stated by that is this:
having become substance. The life-continum is, indeed, the principal factor and
the principal basis because of similarity to the relinking mind. Therefore, it
is called the principal factor and basis or it is called so owing to its
fulfilling of the function of a ground or reason by way of the causal condition
of unbroken procedure [patthana bhutam anga kiccam nipphadentam asariram hutvati
vuttam hoti, bhavangam hi patisandhi sadisatta patthanam angam patthanañca
sariranti vuccati, avicchedappavatti hetu bhavena va karana kiccam
sadhayamananti attho].
The expression: After the turning round of that has been stated by
way of general reference to the life-continum, threefold as regards procedure:
past thought-unit of the life-continum, movement of the life-continum and
stoppage of the life-continum. At this place turning round refers just to
the stoppage of the life-continum [tam avattetvati bhavanga samañña vasena
vuttam pavattakara visesa vasena pana atitadina tibbidham tattha ca
bhavangupacchedasseva avattanam].
From the cessation of that (tannirodha) = Owing to the
dissolution of that [tassa nirujjhanato] -- expressions of reason by way of
proximity-condition [anantara paccaya vasena hetu vacanam].
Even in the first impulsion and so forth ending with the
seventh impulsion. This passage has been stated concerning the absence (in a
definite way) of lust, hate and ignorance with the thought: This is a woman
or This is a man, in the course of cognition at the five doors of sense.
In this matter, indeed, owing to the existence of mental states, by way of
adverting and the rest up to determining, without radical reflection, on account
of reflecting unwisely prior to adverting-determining, impulsion that is with a
bare semblance of greed arises in regard to a liked object such as a female
form, and impulsion that is with a bare semblance of hate arises in regard to an
object not liked. There is however no occurrence of lust, hate and ignorance in
an extreme way, with strong moral consequences in the course of sense-door
cognition. Only in the course of mind-door cognition lust, hate and ignorance
occur absolutely, that is, with strong moral consequences. But impulsion of the
course of sense-door cognition is the root of lust, hate and ignorance of
mind-door course of cognition. Or even all beginning with the mental state of
the life-continum can be taken as the root of mind-door impulsion. Thus accurate
knowledge of the root has been stated by way of the root-reason of mind-door
impulsion. The casual state and the temporary state (are) indeed (stated) on
account of the newness of just impulsion of the course of cognition at the five
doors of sense and on account of the brevity of the same impulsion [pathama
javanepi ..... pe ...... sattama javanepiti idam pañca dvarika vithiyam ayam
itthi ayam purisoti rajjana dussana muyhananam abhavam sandhaya vuttam tattha hi
avajjana vatthabbananam puretaram pavatta yoniso manasikara vasena ayoniso
avajjana votthabbanakarena pavattanto itthe itthi rupadimhi lobha sahagata
mattam javanam uppajati anitthe ca dosa sahagata mattam na pana ekanta rajjana
dussanadi hoti tassa pana mano dvarikassa rajjana dussanadino pañca dvarika
javanam mulam yatha vuttam va sabbampi bhavangadi evam mano dvarikassa javanassa
mula karana vasena mulapariñña vutta. Agantuka tavakalikata pana pañca
dvarika javanasseva apubba bhava vasena ittarata vasena ca].
After breaking up gradually are fallen, one atop of another,
on account of the turning round -- changing, moving -- early and later or before
and after or below and above, in the form of the arising of the mental state of
the life-continum [hettha ca upari ca parivattamana vasena aparaparam
bhavanguppatti vasena].
Likewise indeed (is indicated) the falling after breaking down of the
(other) mental states on account of the arising of the mental state of the life-continum
(tatha bhavanguppada vasena hi tesam bhijjitva patanam].
By this indeed the commentator shows, by way of the gradual arising of the
earlier and the later mental state of the life-continum, the arising of the
impulsion of the mind-door course of cognition which is different to the
impulsion of the course of cognition at the five doors of sense [imina pana
hetthimassa uparimassa ca bhavangassa aparaparuppatti vasena pañca dvarika
javanato visadisassa mano dvarika javanassa uppadam dasseti].
Because of the proceeding of lust and the like by just the way of
mind-door impulsion, the commentator said even thus: There takes place
looking straight on or looking away from the front, by way of lust, hatred and
ignorance.
On an object falling within reach of consciousness at the eye-door, impulsion
arises right at the very end when from the movement of the life-continum
onwards, the states of adverting, seeing, receiving, considering and
determining, having arisen, have ceased.
That impulsion is like a visitor, at the eyedoor which is comparable to a
house belonging to the states of adverting and the rest mentioned above born
there before the arising of impulsion.
As it is not fit for a visitor who has arrived at a strange house for the
purpose of getting some assistance from the owners of the house to do any kind
of ordering when the owners themselves are silent, so it is unfit for impulsion
to be involved in lust, hate and ignorance, at the eyedoor house of adverting
and the other states of mind, when those states of mind are themselves not
lusting, hating or bound up with ignorance. Clear comprehension of non-delusion
should thus be known by way of the casual state.
At the eye-door, the mental states that close with the state of determining
arise and break up together with associated phenomena, at just those places on
which they arise. They do not see each other. Therefore the mental states that
close with determining are brief and temporary. There, as in a house of the
dead, where here is one more to die just at that very instant, it is not proper
for that one who is to die to be given to delight in dancing and singing and the
like, even so, at a sense-door, when the states of adverting and the rest with
associated phenomena have died just where they arose, it is not fit for the
remaining impulsion that is to die shortly to take delight in anything by way of
lust and the like. Clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood thus
by way of the temporary state.
Like a visitor = Like someone come specially, a stranger [agantuka
puriso viya].
Visitors are of two kinds, by way of a guest, that is, a person who comes
and goes, a person who does not stay permanently in a place, and by way of
someone who comes specially to a place, a stranger. In this connection, one who
is an acquaintance, or one who is known, is a guest. One who is not an
acquaintance and is unknown, is a stranger. According to the context here a
stranger is meant.
Since to these mental states there is just that duration limited to the
process of rise-and-fall of mental phenomena, these states of mind are called
temporary.
And further this clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood, by
way of the reflection on the aggregates, bases, processes and conditions.
To be sure, here, eye and visible object are materiality-aggregate; seeing is
consciousness-aggregate; feeling that is associated with seeing is
feeling-aggregate; perceiving is perception-aggregate, and those beginning with
sense-impression are formation-aggregate. Thus
looking-straight-on-and-looking-away-from-the-front is seen in the combination
of these five aggregates. There, who, singly, looks straight on? Who looks away
from the front?
Seeing = Eye-consciousness [cakkhuviññanam]. By reason of
knowing the acts of looking straight on and of looking away from the front in
that way only as "eye-consciousness", adverting and the rest are left
out, as bare seeing only is in "eye-consciousness" [tassa vaseneva
alokana vilokana paññayananto avajjanadinam agahanam].
Separate from that fivefold aggregate, who, singly, looks straight on?
Who, singly, looks away from the front? None, singly, only by oneself indeed,
looks straight on, and none, singly, only by oneself, looks away from the front
-- this reply is intended to be given to the questions.
In the same way, eye is eye-base; visible object is materiality-base; seeing
is mind-base; feeling and so forth, the associated things, are thing-base. Thus
looking-straight-on-and-looking-away-from-the-front is seen in the combination
of these four bases. There, who, singly, looks straight on? Who looks away from
the front? Likewise, eye is eye-process; visible object is materiality-process;
seeing is eye-consciousness-process; and the things beginning with feeling
associated with eye-consciousness are mind-process. Thus,
looking-straight-on-and-looking-away-from-the-front is seen in the combination
of these four processes. There, who, singly, looks straight on? Who looks away
from the front? Exactly, in the manner already stated, eye is support-condition;
visible object is object-condition; adverting is condition of proximity,
contiguity, decisive-support, absence and disappearance; light is condition of
decisive-support and those beginning with feeling are conascence-condition. Thus
looking straight-on-and-looking-away-from-the-front is seen in the combination
of these conditions. There, who, singly, looks straight on? Who looks away from
the front?
With the words: light is the condition of decisive-support the
conditionality of seeing is stated through the Suttanta method, through the way
of illustrated discourse, discursively, indirectly.
Conascence-condition too belongs to just seeing. This is (given as) only
an example owing to the obtaining also of conditions of mutuality, association,
presence, non-disappearance and so forth.
Here, in this way, by reflection on the aggregates, bases, processes, and
conditions, too, clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood.
Sammiñjite pasarite = "in bending and in stretching." In
the bending and the stretching of the joints.
The consideration of purpose and lack of purpose in regard to any
contemplated act of bending or stretching, and the taking up of that which is
purposeful, after not bending and stretching according to merely the mind's
inclination, is clear comprehension of purpose.
In this matter, a person who experiences pain every moment due to standing
long with bent or stretched hands or feet does not get concentration of mind
(mental one-pointedness), his subject of meditation entirely falls away, and he
does not obtain distinction (absorption and so forth). But he who bends or
stretches his hands and feet for the proper length of time does not experience
pain, gets concentration of mind, develops his subject of meditation and attains
distinction. Thus the comprehension of purpose and non-purpose should be known.
Clear comprehension of suitability is the comprehension of the suitable after
considering the suitable and the non-suitable even in a matter that is
purposeful. In this connection, the following is the method of explanation: It
is said that on the terrace of the Great Relic Shrine, while young bhikkhus were
rehearsing the doctrine, young bhikkhunis standing at the back of the bhikkhus
were listening to the rehearsal. Then a young bhikkhu came into bodily contact
with a bhikkhuni while stretching out his hand, and, by just that fact, became a
layman. Another bhikkhu in stretching his foot stretched it into fire and his
foot got burnt to the bone. Another stretched his foot on an ant-hill and was
bitten in the foot by a poisonous snake. Another bhikkhu stretched out his hand
till it rested on the pole of a robe-tent, a ribbon-snake on the pole bit the
hand of that bhikkhu.
Therefore the stretching of one's limbs should be done in a suitable and not
an unsuitable place. This should be understood here as clear comprehension of
suitability.
Just by the showing of the tribulation of non-comprehension of that, the
felicity of comprehension is made clear; thus here, the illustration of these
should be understood.
In the terrace of the Great Relic Shrine = In the terrace of
the great relic shrine known by the name of Hemamali, at Anuradhapura, in Lanka,
built by the king Dutthagamini.
By just that fact, became a layman = By reason of coming
into bodily contact with a female, that bhikkhu having become filled with
longing for sense-delights turned to the lower life of the world.
On the pole of a robe-tent = On a pole fixed to the roof of
a tent covered with robes.
It is said by the commentator that bhikkhus having made a robe-tent were
in that tent rehearsing the doctrine even on the terrace of the Great Relic
Shrine.
It is said by the commentators, the elders Ananda and Dhammapala, that the
ribbon-snake is a snake-species found in Lion Island.
Clear comprehension of resort should indeed be illustrated by the story of
the senior bhikkhu called Great Elder.
It is said that Great Elder seated in his day-quarters bent his arm quickly
whilst talking to his resident pupils and then after putting back his arm to the
position in which it first was, bent it again slowly. The resident pupils
questioned him thus: "Reverend Sir, why, after bending the arm quickly, did
you, having placed it in the position in which it first was, bend it
slowly?" "Friends, until now I did not bend this arm with a mind
separate from the subject of meditation ever since I began to attend to the
subject of meditation. Therefore, having put back the arm in the place it was
first in, I bent." "Good! Reverend Sir. A bhikkhu should be one who
acts thus." Here, too, it should be understood that the non-abandoning of
the subject of meditation is clear comprehension of resort.
Subject of meditation -- The subject of meditation of the
elements (modes or processes) that is according to the method about to be stated
with the words "Within there is no soul" and so forth.
Within there is no soul that bends or stretches. By the diffusion of the
process of oscillation born of mental activity, bending and stretching occur.
Indeed, here, it should be understood that the knowing in this way is clear
comprehension of non-delusion.
4. Clear comprehension in wearing shoulder-cloak and so forth
Sanghati patta civara dharane = "In wearing the shoulder-cloak,
the other (two) robes and the bowl."
In this connection, purpose is what accrues materially to one, on the
almsround, and what is stated by the Blessed One according to the method
beginning with the words, "for keeping out cold, for keeping out
heat."
Suitable to one who is naturally warm-bodied is fine clothing, and that is
suitable to one who is weak, too. To the susceptible to cold is suitable thick
clothing made of two pieces of cloth laid one over the other and stitched
together (called also a double cloth), Non-suitable to these is clothing
contrary to the kind mentioned above.
A worn-out robe is indeed not suitable as that robe will even be
hindrance-causing when one patches and sews or darns it.
Likewise, hindrance-causing are robes of silk, fine hemp and similar material
that stimulate cupidity. For, to the lone-dweller in the forest such robes are
productive of loss of clothing and of life.
With the words, to the lone-dweller in the forest such robes are
productive of loss of clothing, the commentator mentioned in part what
constitutes the loss of (or destruction of) the life of purity and it is stated
so because clothing is properly free to be taken or used by or accessible to
thieves and the like.
The robe acquired by wrong means of livelihood and the robe which decreases
the good and increases the bad in the one who wears it, are irreversibly not
suitable.
Just by that statement (or irreversibility) the commentator shows that the
non-suitable mentioned earlier is not non-suitable absolutely because of the
possibility of the non-suitable mentioned earlier becoming suitable to someone,
at some time, owing to this or that reason. This pair (of robes mentioned) here
is however absolutely non-suitable, on account of the absence of suitability to
anyone at any time
Here, from the foregoing, clear comprehension of the suitable and the
non-suitable should be understood; as the holding fast to the line of meditative
thought, by way of the non-abandoning of the line of contemplation which the
commentator is going to state [vakkhamana kammatthanassa avijahana vasena], clear
comprehension of resort should be understood.
Within there is nothing called a soul that robes itself. According to the
method of exposition adopted already, only by the diffusion of the process of
oscillation born of mental activity does the act of robing take place. The robe
has no power to think and the body too has not that power. The robe is not aware
of the fact that it is draping the body, and the body too of itself does not
think: "I am being draped round with the robe.," Mere processes clothe
a process-heap, in the same way that a modelled figure is covered with a piece
of cloth. Therefore, there is neither room for elation on getting a fine robe
nor for depression on getting one that is not fine.
Within. In one's own mental flux [abbhantareti attano
santane].
Body too. Body too is only an ego-concept [kayapiti atta paññatti
matto kiyopi].
I = Karma produced body [ahanti kamma bhuto kayo].
Processes = External processes called robes [civara sankhata
bahira dhatuyo].
Process-heap = The internal process-collection called the
body [dhatu samuhanti kaya sankhatam ajjhattikam dhatu samuham].
Some honour an ant-hill where a cobra de capello lives, a tree-shrine, and so
forth, with garlands, perfumes, incense, cloth, and similar things. Others
maltreat these objects. Ant-hill, tree-shrine and the like are, however, neither
elated by the good nor depressed by the bad treatment. Just in the same way
there should be no elation on receiving a good robe or depression on getting a
bad one. Clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood, in this
connection, as the proceeding of reflective thought, in this way.
And in using the bowl, clear comprehension of purpose should be understood,
by way of the benefit obtainable through the action of one who takes the bowl
unhurriedly and thinks: "Going out to beg with this I shall get alms."
With the seeing of the purpose, the obtaining of food, should the bowl be
taken by one. In this way indeed does clear comprehension of purpose arise.
To one with a lean body which is weak a heavy bowl is not suitable. And not
suitable is a damaged bowl that is tied with thread and stopped in four or five
places and hard to wash properly. A bowl that is hard to wash well, certainly,
is not fit. There will be inconvenience caused to him who washes that kind of
bowl.
A bowl that is hard to wash well: This was said concerning a
bowl difficult to wash properly, naturally, though it may be without mends.
A bright bowl which shines like a gem and therefore is capable of stimulating
the cupidity of others is not suitable for the same reasons given in regard to
robes of silk, fine hemp and so forth.
Just irreversibly unsuitable are the bowl acquired by wrong means of
livelihood and the bowl by which good decreases and evils increase. Through this
explanation, clear comprehension of suitability in this connection should be
understood.
And by the fact even of the holding fast to the subject of meditation should
clear comprehension of resort be understood.
Within there is nothing called a self that is taking the bowl. As stated
already, by the diffusion of the process of oscillation born of mental activity,
there is the taking of the bowl. In this matter of taking the bowl, the bowl
cannot think. Hands too cannot think. The bowl does not cognize that it is taken
by the hands. Hands do not cognize that the bowl is taken by them. Just
processes take a process-heap. It is comparable to the taking of a red-hot
vessel with a pair of tongs. By way of the proceeding of reflective thought in
this way, clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood in
bowl-taking.
And further, it is like this: When kindly people see, in a refuge for the
helpless, unfortunate persons, with hands and feet cut off, and with blood, pus,
and many maggots in the open wounds, and give to the unfortunate persons
bandages and medicine in containers, some of the miserable sufferers in the
refuge may get thick bandages and containers not shapely; others may get thin
bandages and shapely containers. None of the sufferers will feel elated or
depressed about the kind of bandages and containers they receive. That is
because they merely want cloth to cover their wounds and containers for keeping
medicine. Now, the bhikkhu who regards the robe as a bandage, the bowl as a
medicine-container, and alms-food as medicine in the bowl, through clear
comprehension of non-delusion should be taken as a person endowed with the
highest clear comprehension.
A person endowed with the highest clear comprehension should
be known by way of the discernment of fineness of the characteristic activity of
one possessed of the highest clear comprehension and by way of the highest state
of the previous practicers of clear comprehension.
5. Clear comprehension in the partaking of food and drink
As to purpose, there is the eightfold purpose referred to with the words,
"Not for sport" and so forth in the formula of reflection on the four
requisites of a bhikkhu. As such should clear comprehension of purpose be known.
Non-suitable to one is the food by which to that one there is discomfort,
whatever the food may be in quality or taste: coarse or fine or bitter or sweet
or anything else. Suitable is food that does not cause discomfort.
Just irreversibly non-suitable are these: the food acquired by wrong means of
livelihood and the food by which good decreases and evils increase in one who
partakes of it. Food which is got by right means and food which does not cause
decrease of good and increase of evil in the one taking it are suitable.
In this matter of the partaking of food, clear comprehension of suitability
should be understood according to the explanation given above, and the clear
comprehension of resort should be understood by way of the non-abandoning of the
subject of meditation.
Within there is no eater called a self. As stated already, by the diffusion
of the process of oscillation born of mental activity, only, there is the
receiving of food in the bowl; by the diffusion of the process of oscillation
born of mental activity, only, there is the descent of the hand into the bowl;
and by the diffusion of the process of oscillation born of mental activity,
only, the making of the food into suitable lumps, the raising of the lumps from
the bowl, and the opening of the mouth take place. No one opens the jaws with a
key. No one opens the jaws with a contrivance. Just by the diffusion of the
process of oscillation born of mental activity, take place the putting of a lump
of food in the mouth, the pestle-action of the upper row of teeth, the
mortar-work of the lower row of teeth, and the tongue's activity comparable to
that of the hand collecting together material that is being crushed. Thus that
lump of food in the mouth is mixed together with the thin saliva at the end of
the tongue and the thick saliva at the root of the tongue. That food in the
mortar of the lower teeth, turned by the tongue, moistened by the saliva, and
ground fine by the pestle of the upper teeth is not put into the stomach by
anyone with a ladle or a spoon. Just by the process of oscillation it goes on.
There is no one within who having made a straw mat is bearing each lump that
goes in. Each lump stands by reason of the process of oscillation. There is no
one who having put up an oven and lit a fire is cooking each lump standing
there. By only the process of caloricity the lump of food matures. There is no
one who expels each digested lump with a stick or pole. Just the process of
oscillation expels the digested food.
It is oscillation [vayodhatu] that does the taking onward, the moving
away from side to side; and it is oscillation that bears, turns round,
pulverizes, causes the removal of liquidity, and expels.
Extension [pathavidhatu] also does bearing up, turning round,
pulverizing and the removal of liquidity.
Cohesion (apodhatu] moistens and preserves wetness.
Caloricity [tejodhatu] ripens or digests the food that goes in.
Space [akasadhatu] becomes the way for the entering of the food.
Consciousness [viññanadhatu] as a consequence of right kind of
action knows in any particular situation.
According to reflection of this sort, should the clear comprehension of
non-delusion be understood here.
Taking onward: moving on up to the mouth.
Moving away from side to side: taking forwards from there to
the belly.
Again, taking onward = carrying beyond the mouth-aperture.
Moving away from side to side = taking what is going
belly-wards, side-wise.
Bears = causes to stand in the stomach.
Turns round = causes to turn back and forth.
Pulverizes = causes the complete powdering as if by a
pestle.
Expels = causes the depositing outside the belly.
In regard to the functions of the process of extension, too, the
explanation is similar to that which has been already stated.
Indeed, these -- bearing, turning, pulverizing, drying -- the process of
oscillation is able to do, only, together with the process of extension. Not
singly by itself. Therefore, these -- bearing, turning, pulverizing, the removal
of liquidity or drying -- too, are stated by way of the function of the process
of extension.
Moistens = makes humid.
Preserves wetness: Just as there is no very great drying by
the process of oscillation and so forth, so the process of cohesion preserves
wetness by not wetting quite.
The way = the way for entering, turning round, expelling
(actually the openings or vacuities which provide the range for such functions).
Process of consciousness = mind-consciousness process, the
knowledge in regard to seeking food, swallowing and the like.
In any particular situation = in any function of seeking,
swallowing or other similar act.
Right kind of action. The act which even completes a
function and becomes a condition for any particular kind of knowledge. That act
causes fulfillment of even the knowledge of the scope of that function, by
reason of that knowledge not arising without the act.
Knows. Perceives, understands, by way of seeking, by way of
full experience of swallowing, by way of the digested, the undigested and so
forth.
It should be understood that as knowledge is always preceded by the
adverting or the turning of the mind to a thing, knowledge too is included here.
Further, the clear comprehension of non-delusion should be understood through
reflection on the unpleasantness connected with food, in the followi |