Dear Yong Peng and all interested in the 'First Sermon' sutta,

Op 21-okt-2009, om 12:27 heeft Ong Yong Peng het volgende geschreven:

> given the vast collection of suttas, I agree Bhikkhu Bodhi's "In
> the Buddha's Words" provides a very good starting point, and he has
> surely make the best of what a typical book can contain before it
> turns into another "nikaya".
>
> Beyond that, I would recommend to read widely from different
> translators, and also to learn Pali to be able to read and
> appreciate the teachings without translation.

-------
N: Yes, it is always good to consult several translators. Bikkhu
Bodhi's book is not on line as I understand and thus it is difficult
as subject of discussion on line in our forum here.
I have been reading Piya's study which is online:< http://
dharmafarer.googlepages.com <1.1DhammacakkappavattanaSs56.11piya.pdf>
We can read this for ourselves.
This gives a long intro and refers to other suttas to place the text
in the context.
There is something particular that I find good and I quote:
<The Dhamma,cakka
the truths, namely:
(1) the knowledge of each truth (sacca,–ā
(2) the knowledge of the task to be done regarding each truth
(kicca,–ā
(3) the knowledge of the accomplishment of these tasks (kata,–ā
When these three phases are applied to each of the four truths, they
total as the twelve aspects or modes
(dvādas’ākāra). The Commentarial version of these three phases
are called “the three true teachings”
(saddhamma), viz, the True Dharma as theory (textual aspect)
(pariyatti saddhamma), the True Dharma
as practice (pa
AA 5.33; cf Nm 143 where the first two are listed).
5.2 TRUTH AND REALITY. In doctrinal terms, it is the four noble
truths or realities (cattāri ariya,
saccāni) that the Buddha realizes on the day of his awakening. Here,
I have translated ariya,sacca as “the
noble truth that is...” rather than the more familiar “the noble
truth of...” simply because they are not
merely theoretical statements, such as “the theory of
relativity” (which refers to a scientific observation
rather than a personal experience). These noble truths relate to
universal realities, not theories of reality.
Above all, the fourth noble truth is that of the way out of
suffering, that is, the path that leads to spiritual
liberation. >

N: I am glad Piya emphasizes that all this is not theory. even the
first round: sacca ~naa.na, is not theory at all. It is the firm
conviction that these are the ruths to be known and it is to be
applied to life at this moment. One knows that the objects of
awareness (kicca ~naa.na, knowledge of the task) are seeing arising
at this moment, attachment arising at this moment, all dhammas
arising now are the objects of right understanding. One has the firm
conviction that this is the Path to be developed.
The first round leads to the second round and this to the direct
realization of the Truths: kata ~naa.na. But the first round is never
relinguished, it becomes clearer and clearer.
There is a lot more to be said about the three rounds which have to
be applied in our daily life.
We can also together go over the sutta in Pali, a few lines at a time.

*******
Nina.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]