From: Bhikkhu Bodhi
Message: 4708
Date: 2016-09-12
Dear Khanh,
Your interpretation below is still not fully correct. You turn
cittaṃ into a nominative subject, but in fact it functions as an
accusative object relative to avirājayaṃ. Thus the string of five
words--anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo--are
all nominatives describing the same subject, who is not specified
but would have to be designated (in English) as the implicit
"one." The sense then is that the subject does not make the mind
dispassionate toward "the all" (tattha cittaṃ avirājayaṃ, which
forms one block) and does not abandon "the all" (which forms a
distinct block).
So in the original citation, we can break up the words into
blocks as shown (omitting the vocative):
Sabbaṃ anabhijānaṃ | [Sabbaṃ ]
aparijānaṃ |
tattha (= sabbasmiṃ ) cittaṃ
avirājayaṃ |
[Sabbaṃ ]
appajahaṃ |
abhabbo
dukkhakkhayāya.
Tattha represents sabba, which in this phrase has to function in a locative role.
A very similar passage occurs at Samyutta Nikaya 35:26 (IV 17-18.), but formulated more neatly, without tattha cittaṃ. The passage begins as follows and runs the gamut through the entire course of "the all":
26. ‘‘Sabbaṃ, bhikkhave, anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya. Kiñca, bhikkhave, anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya? Cakkhuṃ, bhikkhave, anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya. Rūpe anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya. Cakkhuviññāṇaṃ anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya. (Etc.)
In "Connected Discourses of the Buddha" I translated this:
“Bhikkhus,
without directly knowing and fully understanding the all,
without developing
dispassion towards it and abandoning it, one is incapable of
destroying
suffering. And what, bhikkhus, is that all without
directly knowing
and fully understanding which, without developing dispassion
towards which and
abandoning which, one is incapable of destroying suffering?
Without directly knowing and fully understanding the eye,
without developing dispassion towards it and abandoning it,
one is incapable of
destroying suffering. Without directly knowing and fully
understanding forms …
eye-consciousness … eye-contact … and whatever feeling arises
with eye-contact
as condition … without developing dispassion towards it and
abandoning it, one
is incapable of destroying suffering.
Dear Jim,
Thanks for your information. I know that in a complicated and profound language as Pali, a single sentence could require deep analysis and extra information from variuos sources.
However, firstly, from the advice of Petra, I think it could be taken simple by following way:
Sabbaṃ, bhikkhave, anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ tattha cittaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ
abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya.
[1] anabhijānaṃ and aparijānaṃ are 2 present participle, here they are all Mas Nom Sing. anabhijānaṃ is from the Stem anabhijānant or anabhijānat which HAS 2 NOMINATIVE DECLENSIONS: anabhijānaNTO & anabhijānAM (cf Practical Pali Grammar - Charles Duroiselle, 226). Here the form anabhijānAM is used, and it is the same as MAS/NEUT ACC SING of the Verbal Noun anabhijāna (Unsuperknowing), so that is the key of confusion, cause the most frequently used form is anabhijānaNTO not anabhijānAM.
[2] Similarly as above, avirājayaṃ and appajahaṃ are present participle Neut Nom Sing which are attributed to cittaṃ - Neut Nom Sing.
So, by that way of analysis, the sentence will be taken as:
Monk! The man who is not super-knowing, not comprehending ALL (things), therefrom whose mind is not detaching, not abandoning, is unable of destruction of suffering.
I think the group (Sabbaṃ anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ) & the group (tattha cittaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ) are combined logically. That is to say: because a certain man does not super-know, not comprehend, so his mind does not detach, not abandon. And the final consequence is he could not destroy sufferings.
Through common sense and naturally logical analysis, I think it makes sense, however, its meaning also depends on the explanation of Commentaries and Sub-Commentaries
Sincerel yours,
From: "'Jim Anderson' jimanderson.on@... [palistudy]" <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: palistudy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2016 12:21 AM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] ITIVUTTAKA 7
Dear Huynh Trong Khanh and Petra,
I have some questions regarding the sentence (Itv p. 3):
Sabbaṃ, bhikkhave, anabhijānaṃ aparijānaṃ tattha cittaṃ avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ
abhabbo dukkhakkhayāya.
1) Which present participle serves as the subject and main agent? "ababbho"
is part of the predicate "is incapable of". Could there be four agents
representing the same individual at different stages?
2) Two existing translations (see below) of this part: "tattha cittaṃ
avirājayaṃ appajahaṃ" are unclear, especially regarding the meaning of
'cittaṃ' and Woodward takes 'sabbaṃ' as the grammatical object of appajahaṃ
(not abandoning). I have Peter Masefield's translation (Vol. I, pp. 135-9)
of the Itivuttaka commentary explaining this sentence in great detail and
which requires considerable study and thought.
F.L. Woodward, p. 118 (1935):
‘ Monks, the man who does not understand and
comprehend the all, who has not detached his mind
therefrom, who has not abandoned the all, can make
no growth in the extinction of Ill.’
Justin Hartley Moore, p. 24 (1908):
‘ He, O monks, that doth not understand and comprehend the
All (sabba-), and whose thought about it is neither one of re-
nunciation nor abandonment, cannot attain destruction of Misery.’
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "KHANH TRONG HUYNH testsuda@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: September 10, 2016 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] ITIVUTTAKA 7
Dear Petra,
Thanks so much for your support. I also always look on English translations
for those suttas that I translate, but sometimes I am embarrassed with rare
forms, cause usually what we need is not only the meaning of the sentence
but also the grammatical base behind the meaning.
Sincerely yours,
Huynh Trong Khanh
From: "Petra Kieffer-Pülz kiepue@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: palistudy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] ITIVUTTAKA 7
Dear Huynh Trong Khanh,
-- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi Chuang Yen Monastery 2020 Route 301 Carmel NY 10512 U.S.A. Sabbe sattā averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anighā hontu, sukhī hontu! 願眾生無怨,願眾生無害,願眾生無惱,願眾生快樂! May all beings be free from enmity, free from affliction, free from distress. May they be happy!