Hello everyone, in an effort to support my insights I have recently been
concentrating my studies on the various suttas in the Pali canon that are
dedicated to meditation, consciousness and cognition. As some of you may know I have
had a conflict over the use of words 'consciousness' and 'mind' in the
translations that have been available to us.

I have spent some time examining these suttas in search of the intent that I
believe was behind the Buddha's discourses, and I have informed my study
through reflecting upon my meditation practice. This reflection and contemplation
has confirmed my belief that our language of consciousness and cognition is
not properly represented in the present translations of this ancient document.
A classic example of what I believe is the incorrect use of our language of
gnosis, consciousness and cognition is in the use of the word 'consciousness'
which too often seems to imply that through meditation we are seeking an
unconscious state, which cannot be true.

Also the Pali term 'citta' is often translated as 'mind.' Mind in the
English language means " The faculty of thinking, reasoning, and applying
knowledge." Also there are numerous unsuccessful compound words used in these
translations, like 'eye-consciousness' which should be replaced by something that uses
our language more successfully, like 'visual perception.' If you examine
these recent uploads I believe you will find them far more readable and
accessible. And, for ease of use they are in Acrobat Reader PDF format. I also find
the translations of the canon far too heavily waited on the male sex. Therefore
I have removed many of the gender specifying references as well.

The files uploaded are:
Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118)
Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN 22)
Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10)
Bahiya Sutta, Udana I.10

They are available at this URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/files/

Blessings to you and all,

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Suffering can indeed be ended in this very lifetime
Take refuge
Let the Four Noble Truths be your guiding-light
Follow the Eighth Fold Path, and observe the precepts
Practice regularly and often, with duration and intensity
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Jeff Brooks
editor, Southwest Insight E'letter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWI_E_letter/
moderator, Ecstatic Buddhism
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ecstatic_Buddhism/
moderator, Jhana Support Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/