From: Ong Yong Peng
Message: 13473
Date: 2009-03-16
--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Nina van Gorkom wrote:
> hiri: modesty, ethical integrity, sense of shame, ability to
> distinguish/identify akusala (from kusala)
>
> ottappa: moral prudence, stopping short of akusala, with
> understanding of its negative effects
>
> In this way, hiri and ottappa work as a pair, able to identify
> akusala (hiri), and knowing its negative effects, one refrain from
> it (ottappa). What do you think?
N: You are right, they work as a pair. I do not mind too much which word are chosen for their translation, so long as their characteristics are understood. I would not use the term discern here, since this is the function of pa~n~naa. It is pa~n~naa that knows the difference between kusala and akusala.