Re: Mmd-p.t 3-4 on "vaasanaa" (impressions)

Dear Lance,

> I think we have to be careful here. What we have in Ud-a is a
particular
> type of vāsanā i.e. the one which caused the brahmin arahat
> Pilindavaccha to address fellow monks in the manner in which
brahmins
> address outcastes. It does not give a definition of vāsanā in
general.
>
> Moreover, Dhammapāla is explicitly quoting (ti vadanti) probably
from an
> Abhayagiri/Mahāyāna source). So (as elsewhere in his writings) he is
> giving at most provisional acceptance to a non-Theravāda teaching.
It is > not clear whether Mmd understands this.

The passage I quoted actually comes from a 12th cent. .tiikaa on Mmd.
The author, Thanbyin, gives it the name "Nyaasappadiipa" in the 4th
paada of his introductory verse. In the CPD bibliography, however, it
is listed as: Saṃ-pyaṅ-ṭīkā (5.1.112 Mmd-p.t). Saṃ-pyaṅ (Burmese) is
the author's name which is also written Thanbyin to reflect the
Burmese pronunciation.

Thanbyin does mention Pilindavaccha in the quoted passage which leads
me to think that there is some connection to the Ud-a 194 passage.
Dhammapaala has "aahita.m saamatthiyamatta.m" instead of
"aahitasattiviseso".

> I think I would render the passage you cite from Mmd slightly
differently:
>
> "A particular potency established by the kilesas which is the cause
of behaviour even of the continuity of one without anusayas (i.e.
arahats) similar to behaviour at the time of possessing anusayas."
>
> Or, less literally:
> "[A vāsanā is] a specific causal power which kilesas create. It
causes an arahat to behave in a manner similar to the way in which
that> individual did before he was an arahat."

Thank-you for the two translations. There isn't really any major
differences in our interpretation of the passage. Later, I will try
translating the remainder of the passage which goes on to give a
simile of the odour left lingering in the vessel used for pouring out
liquor (aasava).

Best wishes,
Jim