Below are some more tips on Sammaditthi:
1. For 21st century English, the translation of "samma" as "right" may be
very misleading. Samma does not convey a sense of right/wrong, good/evil as
mentioned.
It seems "samma" means, that which keeps one on the path of:
a) staying happy,
b) not harming oneself,
c) not harming others,
d) not harming the environment or not harming the cosmos, and
e) purifying ones mind of impurities (sankharas).
This is a long-winded way of saying that "samma" means, that which keeps one
on the path toward full enlightenment.
2. There is nothing "wrong" with choosing a non-samma path. However, one
should realize that a different path may lead one toward:
a) unhappiness,
b) harming oneself,
c) harming others,
d) harming the environment/cosmos, or
e) harming ones own mind by creating more impurities in ones own mind,
3. A translation of "sammaditthi" as "effective understanding" or "skillful
understanding" might be more appropriate for 21st Century English.
4. Sammaditthi is an advanced concept. To truly understand the concept of
sammaditthi is to become a fully enlightened being.
5. Sammaditthi includes a complete understanding of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and
4th noble truths (1st=Dukkhasaccaniddeso, 2nd=Samudayasaccaniddeso,
3rd=Nirodhasaccaniddeso, 4th=Maggasaccaniddeso)
6. In the Mahasatipatthana Sutta the historic Buddha focuses on the
following points in describing sammaditthi:
a) Dukkhe nanam - includes a complete understanding of the 1st noble truth,
- this is an understanding of dukkha. It is explained in the
Dukkhasaccaniddeso section of the Mahasatipatthana Sutta)
NOTE: Dukkha is very difficult to translate. Some translate dukkha
as suffering. Another translation of dukkha could include:
anger, hatred, depression, angst, grief, distress, clinging,
longing, fear, sorrow, mourning, sorrowfulness, lust,
jealously, sloth, torpor, resentment, revenge, hopelessness,
deep inward woe, deep lamentation, deep wailing, weltsmertz,
mental pain, mental distress and all other related
emotions.
b) Dukkha samudaye nanam - includes a complete understanding of the 2nd
noble truth, - this is an understanding of how dukkha begins or arises. It
is explained in the Samudayasaccaniddeso section of the Mahasatipatthana
Sutta)
c) Dukkha nirodhe nanam - includes a complete understanding of the 3rd noble
truth, - this is an understanding of how dukkha is totally eliminated from
ones mind so it will never begin again. It is explained in the
Nirodhasaccaniddeso section of the Mahasatipatthana Sutta)
d) Dukkhanirodhagaminiya patipadaya nanam - includes a complete
understanding of the 4th noble truth or the 8-fold noble path, - this is an
understanding of the path that will purify ones mind and lead toward full
enlightenment. It is explained in the Maggasaccaniddeso section of the
Mahasatipatthana Sutta.
NOTE: Sammaditthi is small subsection of the Maggasaccaniddeso
section in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta. Studying this
relationship will reveal an interesting form of recursive
speaking that is common to many of the lectures/discourses
of the historic Buddha.
7. The Mahasatipatthana Sutta is the longest and most detailed
lecture/discourse the historic Buddha gave on how walk the path toward full
enlightenment.
With kind regards,
Mike Stelmach
-----Original Message-----
From:
Pali@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
Pali@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of DC
Wijeratna
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 11:26 AM
To:
Pali@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Pali] sammaditthi
Here are some tips:
1. Samma ditthi is the entry to the path (Fourth Noble Truth)
2. A complete description is given in MN 9. It is a good starting point.
3. It is right view or opinion in English.
4. The word di.t.thi in Pali has to do with actual seeing (or at least the
experience of seeing.
5. Thus there are two levels of seeing-mundane and supr-mundane (for
example, dibba-cakkhu)
6. A correct understanding of this term will require a deep understanding
Dhamma as give in the Pali Nikayas.
7. If you read MN 9 you will appreciate the complexity of this concept.
8. There is a good translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi-I think at
Access-to-Insight.
9. It may be a good idea to read the above for a start.
With mettaa
D. G. D. C. Wijeratna
----- Original Message ----
From: mahasangha2000 <
mahasangha@...>
To:
Pali@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 12:28:46 PM
Subject: [Pali] sammaditthi
Greetings, I am new to this e-group. I am researching the concept
of "sammaditthi" which I understand often to be translated into "Right
Understanding" or "Right View." From the Buddha's teachings, Right
View is often associated with the Four Noble Truths. I do not know
Pali, and am not an etymologist or linguist. But since Pali is no
longer a living language, I am assuming that the English meanings that
we put onto Pali terms might have an accuracy that can be quite fluid.
Is anyone expert enough to have comments on the range and breadth of
possible meanings that "sammaditthi" might connote. For example, the
translation of "samma" into "right" feels like a dualistic term that
connotes good/evil, right/wrong, etc. that feels more like a Judeo-
Christian interpretation- a modern mapping onto an ancient word; is
this an appropriate interpretation? The translation of "ditthi"
into "understanding" or "view" seems to indicate a meaning of a
cognitive or intellectual knowledge-I am wondering if the Pali is
indicating this, or does it mean an experiential knowledge that is
beyond verbal concepts? Or does the Pali term indicate something else?
Many thanks for any info that is available.
Larry
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