function (of consciousness): santi^rana; s. vin~n~a^na-kicca.
full understanding through: ti^ranaparin~n~a^, s. parin~n~a^. - ”Investigation” (vi^mamsa^) is one of the 4 roads to power (iddhipa^da, q.v.) and one of the 4 predominants (adhipati; s paccaya 3). - i. of truth: dhamma-vicaya, is one of the 7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.).
s. bhava, paticcasamuppa^da.
(of the body): s. asubha, sivathika^, ka^yagata^sati.
”red-kasina”, s. kasina.
ariya-puggala (q.v.).
”white-kasina-exercise”; s. kasina.
”analytical knowledge” or ”discrimination”, is of 4 kinds: analytical knowledge of the true meaning (attha-patisambhida^), of the law (dhamma-patisambhida^), of language (nirutti-patisambhida^), of ready wit (patibha^na-patisambhida^).
As an alternative rendering of the fourth term (patibha^na), Bhikkhu n~a^namoli proposes: perspicuity (in expression and knowledge).
1. The analytical knowledge of the meaning (attha-p.) is the knowledge with regard to the sense.
2. The analytical knowledge of the law (dhamma-p.) is the knowledge with regard to the law.
3. The analytical knowledge of language (nirutti-p.) is the knowledge of the language with regard to those former 2 things.
4. The analytical knowledge of ready-wit (patibha^na-p.) is the knowledge about the (former 3) kinds of knowledge" (Vibh. XV).
"(1) attha (Sanskrit artha, ? ar, to reach; result, meaning, purpose, true substance) designates, in short, the fruit (phala) of a cause (hetu); for since the fruit of a cause results from adhering to the cause, and is reached and effected thereby, therefore it is called result (attha). In particular, however, 5 things are considered as attha, namely: everything dependent on conditions, Nibba^na, the meaning of words, karma-result, and functional consciousness. When anyone reflects on that meaning any knowledge of his, falling within the category concerned with meaning (or result), is the ”analytical knowledge” of meaning.
"(2) dhamma (Sanskrit dharma, ? dhar, to bear; bearer, condition, law, phenomenon, thing) is, in short, a name for condition (paccaya).... In particular, however, 5 things are considered as dhamma, namely: every cause (hetu) producing a result, the noble path, the spoken word, the karmically wholesome, the karmically unwholesome. When anyone reflects on that law, any knowledge of his, falling within the category concerned with law (or cause), is the ”analytical knowledge” of the law.
In Vibh. it is further said: ”The knowledge of suffering is the ”analytical knowledge” of the true meaning (attha-patisambhida^), the knowledge of its origin is the ”analytical knowledge” of the law (dhamma-patisambhida^). The knowledge of the cause is the ”analytical knowledge” of the law (dhamma-patisambhida^), the knowledge of the result of the cause is the ”analytical knowledge” of the true meaning (attha-patisambhida^)... That the monk knows the law, the sunas etc. this is called the ”analytical knowledge” of the law (dhamma-patisambhida^); if however, he understands the meaning of this or that speech... it is called the ”analytical knowledge” of the true meaning (attha-patisambhida^).”
(3) "”The knowledge of the language concerning those things” means: the language corresponding to reality, and the unfailing mode of expression concerning the true meaning and the law.
(4) "”Knowledge about the kinds of knowledges” is that knowledge which has all knowledges as object and considers them. Or, the analytical knowledge of ready wit (patibha^na-patisambhida^) means the knowledge of the above mentioned 3 kinds of knowledge, in all their details, with their objects, functions, etc." (Vis.M. XIV).
On the 7 qualities leading to the attainment of the 4 ”analytical knowledge” , s. A. VII, 37 - See Vis.M. XIV, 21ff; Vibh. XV; Pts.M. Patisambhida^ Katha^.
bala and bha^vana^ bala: ”power of reflection”, and ”power of mental development”. About these 2 powers it is said in A. II, 10:
"What, o monks, is the power of reflection? If, o monks, someone thinks thus: ”Bad conduct in deeds, words and thoughts verily bears bad fruits both in this life, as well as in the next life”, and in consequence of this consideration, he abandons bad conduct in deeds, words and thoughts, follows good conduct, and keeps his heart pure, this, o monks, is the power of reflection.
"What, o monks, is the power of mental development? If, o monks, a monk develops the factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.), bent on solitude, on detachment, on extinction, and ending in deliverance, namely: mindfulness, investigating of the law, energy, rapture, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity, this, o monks, is the power of mental development."
paccha^ja^ta-paccaya, one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
”enlightenment of the disciple”, designates the holiness of the disciple, as distinguished from the holiness of the Pacceka-Buddha (q.v.) and the Samma^-sambuddha (q.v.).
the ”Once-returner”: s. ariya-puggala, A.
”conventional truth”, is identical with voha^ra-sacca (s. paramattha-sacca).
”indriya-s.”; s. si^la.
citta (in Dhs.: sasankha^rena ): a prepared, or prompted. state of consciousness, arisen after prior deliberation (e.g. weighing of motives) or induced by others (command, advice, persuasion) - See Tab. I; exemplified in Vis.M. XIV, 84f. - Opposite: asankha^rika-citta, q.v.
the 4 ”foundations of mindfulness”, lit.”awarenesses of mindfulness” (sati-upattha^na), are: contemplation of body, feeling, mind and mind-objects. - For sati, s. prec.
A detailed treatment of this subject, so important for the practice of Buddhist mental culture, is given in the 2 Satipattha^na Suttas (D. 22; M. 10), which at the start as well as the conclusion, proclaim the weighty words: "The only way that leads to the attainment of purity, to the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, to the end of pain and grief, to the entering of the right path, and to the realization of Nibba^na is the 4 foundations of mindfulness."
After these introductory words, and upon the question which these 4 are, it is said that the monk dwells in contemplation of the body, the feelings, the mind, and the mind-objects, "ardent, clearly conscious and mindful, after putting away worldly greed and grief."
These 4 contemplations are in reality not to be taken as merely separate exercises, but on the contrary, at least in many cases, especially in the absorptions, as things inseparably associated with each other. Thereby the Satipatha^na Sutta forms an illustration of the way in which these 4 contemplations relating to the 5 groups of existence (khandha, q.v.) simultaneously come to be realized, and finally lead to insight into the impersonality of all existence.
(1) The contemplation of the body (ka^yanupassana^) consists of the following exercises: mindfulness with regard to in-and-outbreathing (a^na^pa^nasati, q.v.), minding the 4 postures (iriya^patha, q.v.), mindfulness and clarity of consciousness (satisampajan~n~a, q.v.), reflection on the 32 parts of the body (s. ka^yagata^sati and asubha), analysis of the 4 physical elements (dha^tuvavattha^na, q.v.), cemetery meditations (si^vathika^ q.v.).
(2) All feelings (vedana^nupassana^) that arise in the meditator he clearly perceives, namely: agreeable and disagreeable feeling of body and mind, sensual and super-sensual feeling, indifferent feeling .
(3) He further clearly perceives and understands any state of consciousness or mind (citta^nupassana^), whether it is greedy or not, hateful or not, deluded or not, cramped or distracted, developed or undeveloped, surpassable or unsurpassable, concentrated or unconcentrated, liberated or unliberated.
(4) Concerning the mind-objects (dhamma^nupassana^), he knows whether one of the five hindrances (ni^varana, q.v.) is present in him or not, knows how it arises, how it is overcome, and how in future it does no more arise. He knows the nature of each of the five groups (khandha, q.v.), how they arise, and how they are dissolved. He knows the 12 bases of all mental activity (a^yatana q.v.): the eye and the visual object, the ear and the audible object, .. mind and mind-object, he knows the fetters (samyojana, q.v.) based on them, knows how they arise, how they are overcome, and how in future they do no more arise. He knows whether one of the seven factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.) is present in him or not, knows how it arises, and how it comes to full development. Each of the Four Noble Truths (sacca, q.v.) he understands according to reality.
The 4 contemplations comprise several exercises, but the Satipattha^na should not therefore be thought of as a mere collection of meditation subjects, any one of which may be taken out and practised alone. Though most of the exercises appear also elsewhere in the Buddhist scriptures, in the context of this sutta they are chiefly intended for the cultivation of mindfulness and insight, as indicated by the repetitive passage concluding each section of the sutta (see below). The 4 contemplations cover all the 5 groups of existence (khandha, q.v.), because mindfulness is meant to encompass the whole personality. Hence, for the full development of mindfulness, the practice should extend to all 4 types of contemplation, though not every single exercise mentioned under these four headings need be taken up. A methodical practice of Satipattha^na has to start with one of the exercises out of the group ”contemplation of the body”, which will serve as the primary and regular subject of meditation: The other exercises of the group and the other contemplatons are to be cultivated when occasion for them arises during meditation and in everyday life.
After cach contemplation it is shown how it finally leads to insight-knowledge: "Thus with regard to his own body he contemplates the body, with regard to the bodies of others he contemplates the body, with regard to both he contemplates the body. He beholds how the body arises and how it passes away, beholds the arising and passing away of the body.”A body is there” (but no living being, no individual, no woman, no man, no self, nothing that belongs to a self; neither a person, nor anything belonging to a person; Com.): thus he has established his attentiveness as far as it serves his knowledge and mindfulness, and he lives independent, unattached to anything in the world.””
In the same way he contemplates feeling, mind and mind-objects.
In M. 118 it is shown how these four foundations of mindfulness may be brought about by the exercise of mindfulness on in-and-out breathing (a^na^pa^na-sati, q.v.).
Literature: The Way of Mindfullness, tr. of Sutta and Com., by Soma Thera (3rd ed; Kandy 1967, BPS). - The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, by Nyanaponika Thera (3rd ed.; London. Rider & Co.). The Foundations of Mindfulness (tr. of M. 10), Nyanasatta Thera (Wheel 19). The Satipattha^na Sutta and its Application to Modern Life, V. F. Gunaratna (WHEEL 60). - The Power of Mindfulness by Nyanaponika Thera (WHEEL 121/122).
ahirika (q.v.).
pacceka-buddha (q.v.).