Dear Pāli friends,
In the Sumaṅgalavilāsinī
there is a section where mindfulness practice is likened to the four truths (Sv
3, 76611-17). Here the mindfulness practice which masters in and out
breathing is equated with the truth of suffering, and “former craving producing
mindfulness” (tattha
assāsapassāsapariggāhikā sati dukkhasaccaṃ, tassā samuṭṭhāpikā purimataṇhā
samudayasaccaṃ) is equated with the truth of origination.
I am not clear on what that phrase tassā samuṭṭhāpikā purimataṇhā samudayasaccaṃ
(“former craving becoming visible by it, i.e. mindfulness”?) means, and wonder
if anyone has any ideas?
The verb is Sanskrit samutthā
(sam + ud + sthā) in caus. form, “to
rise up together, come forth, appear, become visible”. samuṭṭhāpikā
in Pāli means “occasioning, causing” per the PED.
The ṭīkā
(Sv-pṭ) is not clear to me either. It appears in vol. 2, page 38312-19:
‘‘sati
dukkhasaccan’ti. Sā pana sati yasmiṃ attabhāve, tassa samuṭṭhāpikā taṇhā,
tassāpi samuṭṭhāpikā eva nāma hoti tadabhāve abhāvatoti āha ‘‘tassā samuṭṭhāpikā
purimataṇhā’ti, yathā ‘‘saṅkhārapaccayā’ti (ma. ni. 3.126; udā. 1; vibha. 484).
Taṃviññāṇabījataṃsantatisambhūto sabbopi lokiyo viññāṇappabandho ‘‘saṅkhārapaccayā
viññāṇaṃ’’ tveva vuccati suttantanayena.
It seems to be saying that as consciousness is
conditioned by saṅkhāra, so craving
is conditioned by mindfulness, in the sense that the latter makes it visible.
Tentative translation: “Mindfulness is the truth of suffering”.
But that mindfulness in an individual where craving is made visible, although in truth it is produced by mindfulness,
because of the disappearance in the absence of it, he said “Former craving made
visible by it” (i. e. mindfulness). Just as it is said “Conditioned by
intentions…. (consciousness)” all worldly consciousness continuity arises from that
continuity of the seed of that consciousness, – that is just what is said
according to the suttantas.
Any suggestions would be
appreciated,
Best wishes,
Bryan