From: Kumara Bhikkhu
Message: 3905
Date: 2014-09-26
'L.S. Cousins' selwyn@... [palistudy] wrote thus at 03:35 PM 25-09-14:
Dear Ven. Kumāra,
I am not sure we should try to integrate different Buddhist systems
from different periods into a single consistent system. Better to look
at them as different angles or ways of looking at things.
Right. More than a few things have changed over the centuries, and the thousands of miles away.
However, as far as the commentarial system is concerned, mettā and
karuṇā do not occur in the fourth jhāna in full absorption. Adosa does
occur, but this is not fully developed as mettā. We can say that adosa
is the seed of mettā found in all skilful consciousness that predisposes
it to become mettā and karuṇā whenever conditions are favourable.
As to why avihiṃsāsaṅkappa is distinguished from abyāpādasaṅkappa in the
Suttanta texts, surely this is a practical matter ? Cruelty is
something distinct from hostility, although ultimately related.
Presumably there was a wish to emphasize the rejection of cruelty,
perhaps as something particularly bad.
Yes, "something particularly bad" is how it seems on face value. My 'gripe' is if there's no hostility (or ill-will), there shouldn't be cruelty (or harmfulness).
So, that's why I wonder if we understood the words—perhaps just abyāpāda—wrongly.
with mettâ,
Kumâra
Bhikkhu