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 A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas iii Table of Contents Label1 Preface v Part I General Introduction 1 Chapter 1 The Scriptures and Their Commentaries 1 Chapter 2 The Buddha 10 Chapter 3 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas I (Citta and Cetasika) 18 Chapter 4 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas II (Rupa) 26 Chapter 5 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas III (Nibbåna) 35 Chapter 6 Different Aspects of the Four Paramattha Dhammas 40 Part II Citta 50 Chapter 7 General Introduction 50 Chapter 8 Citta Knows an Object 65 Chapter 9 A Process of Citta 72 Chapter 10 Functions of Citta 83 Chapter 11 The Duration of Different Processes 94 Chapter 12 The Nature of Javana-Citta 108 Chapter 13 The Ephemeral Experience of Objects 117 Chapter 14 The Cycle of Birth and Death 133 Chapter 15 The Nature of Vipåka 146 Chapter 16 Citta and Cetasika 153 Chapter 17 Cittas of the Sense-Sphere 159 Chapter 18 Planes of Existence 167 Chapter 19 Feelings 181 Chapter 20 Associated Dhammas 192 Chapter 21 Roots 205 Chapter 22 Sobhana and Asobhana 214 Chapter 23 The World 223 Chapter 24 The Variegated Nature of Citta 239 Part III Concepts 250 Chapter 25 Concepts (1) 250 Chapter 26 Concepts (II) 265 Chapter 27 Concepts (III) 278 Part IV The Development of Samatha 291 Chapter 28 Development of Samatha 291 Part V The Development of Insight 314 Chapter 29 The Factors Leading to Enlightenment 314 Chapter 30 The Stages of Vipassanå 327 Chapter 31 Different Kinds of Purity 342 Chapter 32 The Three Kinds of Full Understanding 347 Chapter 33 The Three Attainments 352 iv A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas Part VI Dialogue on Vipassanā 355 Chapter 34 The Natural Way of Development 355 Chapter 35 The Characteristic of Dukkha 368 Chapter 36 The Meaning of Anattå 380 Appendices 396 Appendix I: Citta 396 Appendix II: Cetasika 422 Appendix III: Rúpa 444 Questions With Regard to the Appendices 455 Index 458 A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas v Preface “A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas” is a masterwork, written by Acharn1 Sujin Boriharnwanaket with great patience and a sense of urgency to help others understand reality. The whole book, in which she explains with great detail citta (consciousness), cetasika (mental factors), and rúpa (physical phenomena), radiates abundant mettå, loving- kindness. Time and again it is stressed 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 a wise friend in the 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. In recognition of her teaching, the venerable monks at Mahamakut Buddhist University presented Acharn Sujin with an honorary degree in 2002. This book is based on her lectures. The whole book 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 a 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 the appropriate conditions are there, and then they perform their functions. 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. 1 Acharn in Thai means teacher. The Pali term is åchariya. vi A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas There are detailed explanations about cittas that arise in a process or series, with the purpose of showing that citta is only a conditioned element that is beyond control, and not self. The reader may wonder where in the scriptures he can find explanations about processes of citta. Acharn Sujin has a profound understanding of the whole Tipiìaka, the Commentaries and sub-commentaries, and she used these texts as her sources. The “Path of Discrimination” (Paìi- sambhidåmagga of the Khuddaka Nikåya2) and the “Conditional Relations” (Paììhåna)3 deal with the processes of cittas. Many details have been given in the Visuddhimagga,4 and the “Expositor” (Aììhasåliní5), 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. 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. 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 2 See Treatise on Knowledge, Ch XVII, Behaviour, Cariya. 3 See Feeling Triplet, Investigation Chapter, under Proximity and Repetition, where also the process of enlightenment is dealt with. One has to remember that mind-element, mano-dhåtu, includes the adverting-consciousness and the receiving-consciousness, and that mind-consciousness-element includes all cittas other than those included in mind-element and the sense-cognitions. 4 Ch XIV, 96 and following, in the translation by Ven. Nyåùamoli. 5 Ch XIV, 96 and following, in the translation by Ven. Nyåùamoli. A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas vii without any understanding, there is wrong concentration. People may erroneously take for jhåna what is only lobha, and therefore, it is explained that 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. The book explains about these different stages of insight knowledge in detail, 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. Or, 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 realised 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 Concepts7 has been printed separately under the sponsorship of Robert Kirkpatrick whose efforts I greatly appreciate. I have divided the sections of this book into chapters, each with its own heading, in order to make the text more easily accessible. The footnotes to the text are, for the greater part, from my hand. I added them to help the reader who is not familiar with some terms and ideas in the text. The last section of this book, the appendices to citta, cetasika and rúpa, written by Acharn Sujin, are essential for the understanding of all chapters. 6 Cira kåla bhåvanå, a development that takes a long time. Cira means long, and kåla means time. 7 Realities and Concepts: The Buddha’s explanation of the world, (2000) Bangkok; DSSF. viii A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas The quotations from the suttas in English are mostly taken from the editions of the Pali Text Society.8 May this book, fundamental for all who study the Dhamma, inspire the reader to carefully consider the realities explained here, and to develop understanding of them. Nina van Gorkom 8 73 Lime Walk, Headington, Oxford OX 37, 7AD. England. A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas ix A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas x A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas 1 Part I General Introduction Chapter 1 The Scriptures and Their Commentaries The word of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Vinaya as taught by him, consists of nine divisions, which are Sutta, Geyya, Veyyåkaraùa, Gåthå, Udåna, Itivuttaka, Jåtaka, Abbhuta and Vedalla.1 Sutta2 includes all Discourses, such as the “Mangala sutta” (“Good Omen Discourse,” Minor Readings, V), and also the Vinaya Piìaka3 and the Niddesa. Geyya includes all suttas with verses (gåthå), such as the Sagåthå-vagga of the Saÿyutta Nikåya or “Kindred Sayings” (I). Veyyåkaraùa or “Exposition” includes the Abhidhamma Piìaka, the suttas without verses and the words of the Buddha that are not included in the other eight divisions. Gåthå or “Verses” include the Dhammapada, Theragå- thå, Therígåthå (Psalms of the Brothers and Sisters) and those parts of the Sutta-Nipåta not called Sutta and entirely in verse.