Fwd: [DhammaStudyGroup] Re: pali/abhidhamma question

Don't think I've seen Derek here before--thought the
group might find this post interesting:

--- Derek Cameron <derekacameron@...> wrote:

> To: dhammastudygroup@yahoogroups.com
> From: "Derek Cameron" <derekacameron@...>
> Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 12:47:50 -0000
> Reply-to: dhammastudygroup@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [DhammaStudyGroup] Re: pali/abhidhamma
> question
>
> > I wonder if sañcetanaa is a synonym with
> sankhaara?
>
> Larry,
>
> What an interesting question. I've never thought
> about it before.
> Here's my attempt at an answer.
>
> Yes, sañcetanaa is derived from the prefix sa.m +
> cetanaa. The prefix
> is an intensifier. It emphasizes the active (i.e.,
> volitional) aspect
> of cetanaa -- mental reactions as actions, the
> mental equivalent of
> physical kamma.
>
> Sankhaara varies in meaning depending on the
> context. In the context
> of dependent origination sankhaara comes between
> ignorance (avijjaa)
> and consciousness (viññaa.na). So here it is a kind
> of mental
> predisposition or tendency. I think it was Baba Hari
> Das who once
> said: "When a pick-pocket looks at a saint, he sees
> only pockets." In
> other words, our mental predispositions influence
> what perceive.
>
> However, in other contexts (e.g. the five
> aggregates), the meaning of
> sankhaara seems to be broader, and includes the
> manifestation of
> these tendencies in actual mental contents. It's
> sometimes translated
> as "volitional formations."
>
> So, the short answer is -- yes, I think sañcetanaa
> and sankhaara are
> very closely related, if not synonyms.
>
> But perhaps someone else has a better answer than
> me?
>
> Derek.
>
>
>
> 
>
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>
>


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