----- Original Message -----
From: "rjkjp1" <rjkjp1@...>
To: <Pali@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 12:42 PM
Subject: [Pali] Re: choiceless awareness


--- In Pali@..., "Jou Smith" <josmith.1@...> wrote:
VENerable Kumara: Sayadaw U Silananda's
> He says:
> ... The object at the present moment can be anyone of this four.
Sometimes
> the body, sometimes feelings, sometimes consciousness, and
sometimes dhamma
> objects. You have to take these objects as the come; you have no
choice.
______
JOU:This question about choiceless awarness and a lot of the questions
these
> days seem to be based on the prolific/popular commentarial
interpretation of
> the Buddha's teaching.
How many people on this list are more interested in
> the Buddha's teaching rather than other's interpretations of it?
______________
Dear Jou,

Jou: Hi Robert

I'm not sure if this is a rhetorical question; in case it's not: I was very
interested in the comment given by Venerable Kumara from Venerable
Silananda's book. It makes a lot of sense, I think.

Jou: I am not questioning that. There are a lot of teachings out there that
make a lot of sense to a degree, but the Buddha taught that they make sense
(appeal to reason) should not be enough in the Kaalaama/Kesaputta Sutta
(http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/anguttara/an03-065.html).

Don't we all read the Buddha's teaching and interpret it to some degree-
rightly or wrongly.

Jou: I would say yes.

I have read exactly the same passage and thought it
meant one thing and then later reread it and considered it in another
way. I think clarification of subtle points is very helpful.

Jou: I agree. I have already pointed out that the Buddha gave a method for
interpreting his teaching, but few even know of it nevermind apply it.

> The Buddha
> gave a study method for his teaching that enables one to rely on
oneself (or
> to rely on the Dhamma, as he taught) in working out what he taught.
(Later
> Paali texts or early Paali texts which have been modified do not meet
the
> criteria of the method and would have us believe we are to take
refuge in
> the Triple Gem, but in the early Paali texts -that meet the criteria- the=

> Buddha only spoke of taking refuge in ourselves-in the dhamma and
having
> Unshakable Faith in the Triple Gem.) Does anyone here even know
about the
> method? Has anyone here applied it for themselves?
>
> > He doesn't relate it to sampajañña though.

----------------------------------------------------
Peace from Norman Joseph (Jou) Smith
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