DC Wijeratna wrote thus at 08:53 PM 30-03-09:

>Here is how I understand some of the terms. Could be useful to the discussion.
>
>Adhikara.na: The word is used in Sinhala, in the same form. It refers to: justice, courts, So adhikarana is a decision according the Vinaya rules (the legal system).

As I understand, it means 'issue' or 'case' (as in court case, legal case). Consider the Vinaya term 'adhikara.na-samatha'. It refers to the ways of settling disputes in the Sangha. It can be quite literally and aptly translated to English as 'case settlement'.

>Vipaaka: ripening of the kamma rather than the result. This is also the literal meaning. Dhammapada first verse.

Ripening of a kamma is a result, is it not? Btw, I notice that Ven BB translates it as 'result' too. Since it's a general word that means "a phenomenon that follows, caused by some previous phenomenon", not limited to 'kammic' usage, I think he made a good choice.

>Pa.tisa,nkhaa: we take it to mean reflect, ponder upon think deeply etc. See reflections on the four requisites.

Interestingly, there's a Chinese word "suan4" (in Mandarin hanyu-pinyin) , which is rather similar to the work "sa'nkhaa". Both literally means 'count', and also commonly used to mean 'consider', 'regard'.

For pa.tisa'nkhaa, I prefer 'considering carefully/deeply' or just 'reflecting'. It's more limiting than 'thinking' and fits nicely in the meaning and usage. As for pa.tisa'nkhaana, 'careful/deep consideration' or simply 'reflection'. So, we can have for pa.tisa'nkhaanabala, 'power of reflection' or 'power of deep/careful consideration'.

For kaayaduccarita, I would translate it as 'bodily bad behaviour', leaving 'unwholesome action' as a translation for 'akulasa kamma'. Then this allows for the translation 'mental behaviour', which covers a wider meaning than what people normally understand as 'thought'.

For abhisamparaaya, I like 'hereafter', which fits in just fine in meaning, in (spiritual/religious) usage, AND carries a similar imagery.

kb