Readily seen by the wise etc

Exploring the Dhamma, as understood from the perspective of the ancient Pali commentaries.
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phil
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Readily seen by the wise etc

Post by phil »

Hi all

Google is not helping me find this because I can't remember the key words, but

1) what is the formula used in the discourses for something that is readily seen by the wise, inviting one to affirm the Dhamma, something like that.

2) what are the teachings this formula is used for?

3) What does it indicate about the centrality/importance or accesssability of those teachings?

Thanks
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
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retrofuturist
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Re: Readily seen by the wise etc

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Phil,
phil wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:46 pm
1) what is the formula used in the discourses for something that is readily seen by the wise, inviting one to affirm the Dhamma, something like that.
Are you asking about this...?

"Well-proclaimed, truly, is this Lord’s Teaching, visible here and now, timeless, inviting inspection, leading onward, to be realised by the wise each one for himself" (DN 19, amongst others)

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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DooDoot
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Re: Readily seen by the wise etc

Post by DooDoot »

phil wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:46 pm1) what is the formula used in the discourses for something that is readily seen by the wise, inviting one to affirm the Dhamma, something like that.
The formula is:

Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhīti

The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, applicable, to be personally experienced by the wise.

phil wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:46 pm2) what are the teachings this formula is used for?
The formula is probably used for those teachings that can be directly experienced therefore probably not for teachings that require unverified faith. For example:

* Knowing greed, hatred & delusion & their absence: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html

* Knowing has greed, hatred & delusion lead to affliction: https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.53

* Knowing craving arising with sense experience: https://suttacentral.net/en/sn35.70

* Knowing dependent origination: https://suttacentral.net/en/mn38 (paragraph SC 59)
phil wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:46 pm 3) What does it indicate about the centrality/importance or accesssability of those teachings?
The formula is used in the suttas to define the Dhamma as a Triple Refuge: https://suttacentral.net/en/sn11.3.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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paul
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Re: Readily seen by the wise etc

Post by paul »

"He is endowed with verified confidence in the Dhamma: 'The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting verification, pertinent, to be realized by the wise for themselves."

This formula is the basis for The Recollection of the Dhamma (Vism. VII, 68), which is one of the forty meditation subjects. It constitutes the description of one of the Four Limbs of a Stream-enterer (AN 10.92), where it is directly related to the cutting of the fetter of doubt.
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phil
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Re: Readily seen by the wise etc

Post by phil »

Thank you Paul, Paul and DooDoot for your very helpful explanations.
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
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