Dear Bhante,

>> 2) Natthi jhaana.m apa~n~nassa, pa~n~naa natthi ajhaayato,
>> Yamhi jhaana~n ca pa~n~na~n ca sa ve nibbaanasantike.
>>
>> There is no meditation without wisdom,
>> No wisdom without meditation,
>> One who has both wisdom and meditation
>> Is close to peace and emancipation.
>
> Dhp 372. There is an exact Sanskrit version at the end of the
> Lokuttaravada Vinaya (together with many other beautiful verses found
> also in the Dhp, etc.). I often wonder why we coyly avoid using the
> word 'jhana' (or 'absorption', etc.) in this translation?

The other thing I wonder about here is the, to me misleading, translation of
pa~n~na as wisdom. Does the word have a vaguer, general meaning in Pali
than the way praj~naa is used elsewhere ? As you will know, it is defined
in Sanskritic sources as "dharma-pravicaya", which suggests a discrinimating
or analytical approach to things. Wisdom would seem to be the end product
of the process not the means.

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge