Jim's Questions Addressed

Dear Jim

How are you?

Jim asked:

"When you translate 'navame' as 'In the ninth statement' does
'statement' here stand for 'sutte' (understood)?"

Suan: As you might have noticed, Ekakanipaata, Anguttara Nikaayo,
comes with groups (vaggaa)containing unitary statements. So 'navame'
refers to the ninth statement in the fifth group. I am not sure if we
could call it a suttam in the normal sense, but we could certainly
treat it as a suttam statement because Anguttatra Nikaayo belongs to
the Suttam Pitaka.


Jim asked:

"Why do you choose 'brown' for 'niila'? I have not seen that colour
for niila in any of the dictionaries I've looked up so far. The
colours listed have been blue, dark blue, blue-black, blue-green."

Suan: I chose "brown" for "niila" as found in a Pali-Myanmar
dictionary I have. Yes, it gives three colors: brown, green-brown,
and blue. But, Myanmar Sayadaws including Mahasi Sayadaw consistently
translate "niila" as "brown". So I follows suit.

The Pali-Myanmar dictionary I refer to is called "Padatthamañjuusaa",
and compiled by U Hoat Sein, a great Chinese Pali scholar, who first
planned to compile a Pali-English dictionary, but later changed his
mind when Pali Text Society published their PTS dictionary.

Jim: "I'm interested in your translation of 'bhavanga' as 'life-
cause'. I know that 'anga' can have the meaning of hetu or kaara.na.
I've tried searching for a definition of bhavanga on the CSCD but
haven't found anything so far. Do you know where I could find such a
definition in the commentaries? Nyanatiloka in his Buddhist
Dictionary says:"...is explained in the Abhidhamma-commentaries as
the foundation or cause (kaara.na) of existence"

Suan: I merely gave one of the lateral meanings (live-component and
life-cause) of "bhavanga". I haven't come across the commentary
explanation. As soon as I found one, I will let you know.


With regards,

Suan


--- In palistudy@..., "Jim Anderson" <jimanderson_on@...> wrote:
> Dear Suan,
>
> >Suan: It is okay with me. Not only this time, this permission also
> >applies to my future postings as well.
>
> Thank-you very much for your permission and please feel free to
post your
> translations here anytime.
>
> I'll probably be asking you many questions about your recent
translation of
> the commentary and subcommentary on AN I.49 and I'm looking forward
to
> your sub-subcommentary which should be helpful. I have a few
questions to
> start with.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jim
>
>
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