From: Nina van Gorkom
Message: 1282
Date: 2002-10-10
> In ~Naa.namoli's "Path of Purification", section on mindfulness ofNina: I checked with the Thai Co. to the patisambhiddha Magga: Co to English
> breathing, there is the following:
>
> "Or alternatively, this mindfulness of breathing as a meditation subject -
> *which is foremost among the various meditation subjects of all Buddhas,
> [some] Pacceka Buddhas and [some] Buddhas' disciples* as a basis for
> attaining distinction and abiding in bliss here and now - is not easy to
> develop without leaving the neighbourhood of villages...noise being a thorn
> to jhaana."
> (Path of Purification VIII 155)
>
> It seems to me that the passage I have placed within asterisks is a
> mistranslation.
>
> The Pali phrase (in the Burmese 6th Council edition) is
> "kamma.t.thaanappabhede muddhabhuuta.m
> sabba~n~nubuddha-paccekabuddha-buddhasaavakaana.m", which should surely be
> rendered:
>
> "foremost among the various meditation subjects of omniscient Buddhas,
> paccekaabuddhas and Buddhas' disciples."
>
> That is to say, it is the foremost meditation subject not only for
> Sammaasambuddhas but for every type of Aryan.
>
> As far as I can see the word "some" in ~Naa.namoli's rendering is neither
> found nor even implied in the Pali. The word "all" (sabba) is found,
> but it qualifies a~n~nuu, "the knowing one", hence meaning "of the Buddhas
> who know all" not "of all Buddhas who know".