Re: Trans. & Philosophy of SN-1:18:5 [Ko.t.thita Sutta]

J.A.,

> I'm puzzled by your reference to the sutta as SN 1:18:5

The S.N. is the worst part of the canon for numeric references; this
was the section number as stated in the BJT digital edition (as in the
.PDF of the SN available on my website for download, generated from
the data created by Mettavihari's project in Sri Lanka) --and yes,
there ARE multiple suttas with the same title in the S.N.

> I don't agree with the translation of "doctrines" in your essay for
> "dhammaana.m" and "dhammaa" in this context. I think it should be
> something like "mental objects"...

This is amply dealt with in my comment:
"Philosophically, Sariputta is confronted with the argument (not a
question) that doctrines are to the mind much as objects are to the
senses..."

That is, however, a stated argument --not a meaning inherent to the term.

E.M.