Dear Nina,
Thanks for this. The PTS and Burmese commentary on this part both read
tattha viññātabbanti viññāṇaṃ nibbānassetaṃ nāmaṃ
viññātabbaṃ is the gerundive (future passive participle) of vijānāti meaning "to be understood, to be recognized, to be known." So the commentary seems to be saying, "Here viññāṇaṃ means 'to be known.'
This is a name for nibbāna." The ṭīkā reads
Viññātabbanti visiṭṭhena ñātabbaṃ, ñāṇuttamena ariyamaggañāṇena paccakkhato jānitabbanti attho, tenāha ‘‘nibbānassetaṃ nāman’ti.
"It is to be known" - it is to be known by a superior person; the meaning is that "It is to be known perseonally by the highest wisdom, by the wisdom of the noble path," thus he says "This is a name for nibbāna."
I'm not sure where Suan is getting vinnyānaṃ in the sense of "it is known"? Perhaps he has another reading? The passive of vijānāti is viññāyati ("it is known") per the PED.
Rhys Davids translates
viññāṇaṃ here as "The intellect of Arahatship, the invisible, the endless, accessible from every side." (http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/dob/dob-11tx.htm)
Thanissaro Bhikkhu translates as "Consciousness without feature,
without end,
luminous all around." (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.11.0.than.html)
Walshe translates as "Where consciousness is signless, boundless, all-luminous."
It seems to be saying that where consciousness, which has the nature of perception and discrimination (< Skt.
vi + jñā, "the act of distinguishing or discerning, understanding, comprehending, recognizing," Monier Williams), ceases its normal function and becomes signless, etc., - that is
nibbāna. This seems to be consistent with the commentary which is equating
viññāṇaṃ with non-discriminative (
anidassanaṃ, "with no attribute" per PED) knowing,
Mettā, Bryan
From: Nina van Gorkom <vangorko@...>
To: pali@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2013 10:29:10 AM
Subject: [Pali] Fwd: nibbaana and vi~n`naana.m
Dear Bryan,
this is Suan's first post. He added some corrections.
Nina.
Begin doorgestuurd bericht:
Datum: 11 september 2013 17:19:34 GMT+02:00
Onderwerp: RE: nibbaana and vi~n`naana.m
Dear Nina
How are you? Glad to hear from you.
The Pali term ‘vinnyaanam’ is formed from ‘vi’+ ‘nyaa’ + ‘yu’.
As you know, ‘vi’ is an adverb suffix. ‘nyaa’ is a verb root called ‘dhaatu’ while ‘yu’ is a suffix to make a noun from a verb root.
So, ‘vinnyaanam’ is a noun formed from a verb. It is not a participle.
The definition of ‘vinnyaanam’ is “aaramanam vijaanaatiiti vinnyaanam”.
“It is called ‘consciousness’ because it knows a stimulus.”
Thus, when ‘vinnyaanam’ is found in the context of knowing a stimulus, it should be translated as consciousness.
However, when ‘vinnyaanam’ is found in the context of indicating ‘nibbaana’, it should be translated in the passive voice as done by the commentary on Kevatta Suttam in Siilakkhandhavagga Diighanikaaya Atthakathaa.
“Vinnyaatabbanti vinnyaanam nibbaanassetam naamam.”
“It is called ‘Knowable’ because it is known uniquely; it is the name of nibbaana.”
Nina, what do you think?
I hope the above discussion answers your question. Or does it?
With regards,
Suan
-----------