From: Nyanatusita
Message: 4051
Date: 2014-12-03
It is better not to confuse the two, however.
The anupūrvābhisamaya
teachings of the Sarvāstivādins and Sāmitīyas are simply describing a
single process of enlightenment. It is just that they think that
separate moments are required to comprehend the separate aspects of the
four truths. In their later explanations the moments are very short; so
for the Sarvāstivādins the whole process will occur in a flash. We do
not know how long the moments were at an earlier date, but at any rate
we are not talking of more than a single meditative sitting.
Lance Cousins
> Hello,
>
> The discussion on 'enlightenment' versus 'awakening' in relation to
> gradual versus sudden process of acquiring insight reminds me of the
> old Chinese Buddhist debate on sudden versus gradual
> enlightenment/awakening, and the debate in the Kathavatthu on gradual
> versus simultaneous development of the paths and fruits, and the
> gradual versus simultaneous realization of the four noble truths.
>
> As to the reality of the world versus the world being a dream: There
> is an appropriate verse in the Sagatha Samyutta and Anguttara Nikaya
> book of sixes:
>
> Na te kāmāyāni citrāni loke,
> Saṅkapparāgo purisassa kāmo;
> Tiṭṭhanti citrāni tatheva loke,
> Athettha dhīrāvinayanti chandaṃ.
>
> which is translated in /Numerical Discourses/ as:
>
> "They are not sensual pleasures, the pretty things in the world:
> a person's sensual pleasure is lustful intention;
> the pretty things remain just as they are in the world,
> but the wise remove the desire for them.''
>
> And in the Khandha Samyutta (S III 47):
>
> Tiṭṭhanteva kho bhikkhave tattheva pañcindriyāni, athettha sutavato
> ariyasāvakassa avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjati.
>
>
> "The five faculties remain right there, bhikkhus, but in regard to
> them the instructed noble disciple abandons ignorance and arouses true
> knowledge.''
>
> BW,
> Bh Nt