Hi,

Here's Connected Discourses of the Buddha" tr Bhikkhu Bodhi page 1946 n.272:

Yatha pure tatha paccha, yatha paccha tatha pure. Spk: This should be understood: (i) by way of the meditation subject; and (ii) by way of the teaching. (i) The interpretation (abhinivesa, or "introduction") of the meditation subject is "before" and arahantship is "after." A bhikkhu who, after interpreting the root of meditation subject, does not allow the mind to fall into the four undesirable conditions (overly lax, etc.) goes on to attain arahantship; he is called one who dwells "as before, so after." (ii) By way of teaching, the head-hairs are "before" and the brain is "after" (among the solid parts in the contemplation of the body). A bhikkhu who develops his meditation from beginning to end without sliding into the four undesirable conditions is called one who dwells "as before, so after."
The explanations sounds strained. The phrase refers simply to maintaining consistency in attending to the meditation subject in all its aspects throughout the session, from start to finish. See too the use of the phrase in the sentence pacchapure sanni cankamam adhittheyyasi (AN IV 87, 2-3), where it seems to have a spatial meaning: "Percipient of what is behind and in front, you should determine on walking back and forth."


Best wishes,
Rahula





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