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A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas by Sujin Boriharnwanaket NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMÅ SAMBUDDHASSA HOMAGE TO HIM, THE BLESSED ONE, THE WORTHY ONE, THE FULLY ENLIGHTENED ONE table of contents Preface..............................................................................................................iii Part I General Introduction ..................................................................................1 Chapter 1 The Scriptures and their Commentaries ...........................................1 Chapter 2 The Buddha......................................................................................8 Chapter 3 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas I (Citta and Cetasika) ...........14 Chapter 4 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas II (Rúpa) ...............................19 Chapter 5 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas III (Nibbåna) .........................26 Chapter 6 Different Aspects of the four Paramattha Dhammas .......................29 Part II Citta ........................................................................................................36 Chapter 7 General Introduction ......................................................................36 Chapter 8 Citta Knows an Object ....................................................................46 Chapter 9 A Process of Citta ...........................................................................51 Chapter 10 Functions of Citta .........................................................................59 Chapter 11 The Duration of Different Processes .............................................66 Chapter 12 The Nature of Javana-Citta...........................................................76 Chapter 13 The Ephemeral Experience of Objects ..........................................82 Chapter 14 The Cycle of Birth and Death........................................................94 Chapter 15 The Nature of Vipåka .................................................................103 Chapter 16 Citta and Cetasika ......................................................................108 Chapter 17 Cittas of the Sense-Sphere..........................................................112 Chapter 18 Planes of Existence .....................................................................118 Chapter 19 Feelings......................................................................................128 Chapter 20 Associated Dhammas..................................................................135 Chapter 21 Roots..........................................................................................144 Chapter 22 Sobhana and Asobhana ..............................................................150 Chapter 23 The World ..................................................................................156 Chapter 24 The Variegated Nature of Citta...................................................166 Part IV The Development of Samatha...............................................................174 Part V The Development of Insight...................................................................189 Chapter 1 The Factors leading to Enlightenment ..........................................189 Chapter 2 The Stages of Vipassanå ..............................................................198 Chapter 3 Different Kinds of Purity..............................................................208 Chapter 4 The Three Kinds of Full Understanding........................................212 Chapter 5 The Three Attainments.................................................................215 Part VI Dialogue on Vipassanå...........................................................................218 Chapter 1 The Natural Way of Development ................................................218 Chapter 2 The Characteristic of Dukkha .......................................................227 Chapter 3 The Meaning of Anattå.................................................................236 Appendix I: to Citta .......................................................................................247 Appendix II: to Cetasika.................................................................................266 Appendix III: to Rúpa ....................................................................................279 INDEX .................................................................................................................289 ii Preface “A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas” is a masterwork, written by Acharn 1 Sujin Boriharnwanaket with great patience and a sense of urgency to help others to understand reality. The whole book, in which she explains in all details about citta, consciousness, cetasika, mental factors, and rúpa, physical phenomena, eradiates abundant mettå, loving-kindness. Acharn Sujin stresses time and again that theoretical understanding, only knowing realities by name, is not sufficient, although it can be a foundation for direct knowledge. The real purpose of the study of the Dhamma is: seeing that this very moment is dhamma, non-self. All realities, dhammas, have to be known now, when they occur, so that the wrong view of self can be eradicated. Acharn Sujin is the wise friend in Dhamma who untiringly explains the practice leading to the direct experience of realities. She has been explaining the Dhamma for over forty years and her lectures are broadcast daily all over Thailand; they can also be heard in Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. This book is based on her lectures. Throughout the whole book Acharn Sujin points to the truth of anattå, non-self. The clinging to the concept of self is very subtle and intricate and therefore difficult to notice. We are inclined to cling to an idea of self who develops paññå, understanding, but from the beginning we ought to remember that there is no self who can direct the arising of sati, awareness, and paññå. Sati and paññå are sobhana cetasikas (beautiful mental factors), which arise when there are the appropriate conditions, and then they perform their functions already. Clinging to sati and paññå will be counteractive to their development. The right conditions for sati and paññå are listening to the Dhamma as it is explained by the right friend in the Dhamma and wise consideration of it. Acharn Sujin is the good friend in the Dhamma who assists many people to develop sati and paññå. Acharn Sujin explains in detail about citta that arises in a process or series, with the purpose of showing that citta is only a conditioned element that is beyond control, non- self. The reader may wonder where in the scriptures he can find explanations about processes of citta. Acharn Sujin has a wide knowledge and a profound understanding of the whole Tipiìaka, the Commentaries and sub commentaries, and she used these texts as her sources. The “Path of Discrimination” (“Paìisambhidåmagga” of the “Khuddaka Nikåya” 2 and the “Conditional Relations” (“Paììhåna”)3 deal with the processes of cittas. Many details have been given in the “Visuddhimagga” 4, and the “Expositor” (“Aììhasåliní” 5), which are entirely based on canonical tradition. Also the “Manual of Abhidhamma“ (“Abhidhammattha Saògaha”) and the sub commentary, the “Abhidhammattha-vibhåviní-ìíka”, which are also derived from canonical tradition, deal with the processes of citta. Acharn Sujin has also made use of the latter sub commentary for the composition of her book. The reader may wonder why so many details have been given about the different planes of existence where there can be birth. In the Scriptures, especially in the “Jåtakas” we shall come across the names of these planes. Knowing about them helps us to see the intricacy of the causes that bring their appropriate results. iii Many details about the development of samatha and the jhånacittas have been given with the purpose of pointing out that only the right cause can bring the right result. Samatha has to be developed with kusala citta accompanied by paññå and if that is not the case, there is wrong concentration with lobha, attachment, instead of right concentration. If someone sits and tries to concentrate without any understanding, there is wrong concentration. People may erroneously take for jhåna what is only lobha, and therefore, Acharn Sujin explains how many conditions are necessary for the attainment of jhåna and how difficult this is. In the development of vipassanå, insight, paññå is developed in stages. Acharn Sujin explains in detail about these different stages of insight knowledge in order to show that the development of paññå is an extremely long process 6. One may read the “Visuddhimagga” (Ch XVIII-XXI) or the “Path of Discrimination” (Treatise on Knowledge, Ch V-XI) about the stages of insight with wrong understanding. One may erroneously believe that these stages are reached by thinking of nåma, mental phenomena, and rúpa, physical phenomena, by thinking of impermanence, dukkha and anattå. However, all stages, from the first stage on until enlightenment, are realized by direct understanding of nåma and rúpa. No matter what stage paññå has reached, the objects of paññå are the characteristics of nåma and rúpa as they naturally appear at this very moment. Acharn Sujin stresses this many times, because the practice of the Dhamma should be entirely in conformity with the Tipiìaka. With my deepest appreciation of Acharn Sujin’s inspiring guidance I offer the translation of this book to the English speaking reader. The part of this book on “Concepts and Realities” has been printed separately under the
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