Hi Anicca,
Good point, but there are a lot of statements about the unfathomability of the Tatagata and how Mara cannot find him as in the above quote:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... ad#p106306" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Perhaps it depends on the meaning one puts to the various terms...
Mike
SN 22.86 Anuradha Sutta
Re: SN 22.86 Anuradha Sutta
"Good, good, Anuradha! Formerly, Anuradha, and also now, I make known just suffering and the cessation of suffering."
BB: This oft-quoted dictum can be interpreted at two levels. At the more superficial level the Buddha can be read as saying that he does no make any declaration about such metaphysical questions as an afterlife but teaches only a practical path for reaching the end of suffering. This interpretation, however, does not connect the dictum with the Buddha's previous statement that the Tathagata is not apprehended in this very life. To make this connection we have to bring in the second interpretation, according to which "Tathagata" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the Tathagata lives, and just these that cease with his passing away. The context in which the dictum occurs at
MN 22 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Both formerly and now, monks, I declare only stress and the cessation of stress. ..."
also supports this interpretation.
BB: This oft-quoted dictum can be interpreted at two levels. At the more superficial level the Buddha can be read as saying that he does no make any declaration about such metaphysical questions as an afterlife but teaches only a practical path for reaching the end of suffering. This interpretation, however, does not connect the dictum with the Buddha's previous statement that the Tathagata is not apprehended in this very life. To make this connection we have to bring in the second interpretation, according to which "Tathagata" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the Tathagata lives, and just these that cease with his passing away. The context in which the dictum occurs at
MN 22 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Both formerly and now, monks, I declare only stress and the cessation of stress. ..."
also supports this interpretation.
Re: SN 22.86 Anuradha Sutta
And at a personal level, "self" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the "self" lives, and just these that are reborn with the "self" passing away. (Emphasis placed on that which differentiates "us", the unawakened, from the Tathagata.)mikenz66 wrote:"Tathagata" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the Tathagata lives, and just these that cease with his passing away.
True?
metta
Re: SN 22.86 Anuradha Sutta
I think so, this gets at a fundamental difference between us and an Arahant.Anicca wrote:And at a personal level, "self" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the "self" lives, and just these that are reborn with the "self" passing away. (Emphasis placed on that which differentiates "us", the unawakened, from the Tathagata.)Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:"Tathagata" is a mere term of conventional usage referring to a compound of impermanent formations, which are "suffering" [dukkha] because they contain no permanent essence. It is just these that stand while the Tathagata lives, and just these that cease with his passing away.
True?
Mike