Re: Twofold dhammapada question

Hi, Stefan,

> Dhammapada 33 verse 1 says:
> 'anava.t.thitacitassa saddhamma.m avijAnato
> pariplavapasAdassa pa^n^nA na paripUrati'

In my text it's listed as verse 38.

> 1) is it implied in this verse that knowing, in the sense 'being
> aware of (the existence of) the good dhamma, already serves as
> a means towards wisdom? In other words, 'I know there is a
> dhamma, so my mind is calmed'?

I would take "saddhama.m avijaanato" to mean "for one who does not
*understand* the true teaching." In other words, the knowing is in
the sense of comprehending, and not in the sense of being aware of
the existence of. Wisdom (pa~n~naa) does not become full (na
paripuurati), for one who does not understand (avijaanato) the true
teaching (saddhamma.m).

> 2) a) does 'suddhamma.m' refer to 'a constituent of reality' or
> to 'the good teaching'?

I take sadhamma.m to mean "true teaching," "true Dhamma."

> b) if it refers to the teaching than my first question arises:
> is merely being aware of the existence of the teaching a
> means towards enlightenment?

No -- I think it's saying that your wisdom will not become full
unless you first understand the true Dhamma. It's not talking about
merely being aware of the existence of it.

Derek.