This term seems to be used for the first time in Kath. (190) of the Abh. Canon; the 5 crimes mentioned, however, are already enumerated and explained in the old Sutta texts (e.g. A.V, 129), as is to be seen from the main part of this work.
”gradual instruction”, progressive sermon; given by the Buddha when it was necessary to prepare first the listener”s mind before speaking to him on the advanced teaching of the Four Noble Truths. The stock passage (e.g. D. 3; D 14; M. 56) runs as follows:
"Then the Blessed One gave him a gradual instruction - that is to say, he spoke on liberality (”giving”, da^na, q.v.), on moral conduct (si^la) and on the heaven (sagga); he explained the peril, the vanity and the depravity of sensual pleasures, and the advantage
of renunciation. When the Blessed One perceived that the listener”s mind was prepared, pliant, free from obstacles, elevated and lucid; then he explained to him that exalted teaching particular to the Buddhas (buddha^nam sa^mukkamsika^ desana^), that is: suffering, its cause, its ceasing, and the path."
”lack of moral shame and dread”, ...
are two of the 4 unwholesome factors associated with all karmically unwholesome states of consciousness, the two others being restlessness (uddhacca) and delusion (moha). Cf. Tab. II.
"There are two sinister things, namely, lack of moral shame and dread, etc." (A.II.6)."Not to be ashamed of what one should be ashamed of; not to be ashamed of evil, unwholesome things: this is called lack of moral shame" (Pug. 59)."Not to dread what one should dread ... this is called lack of moral dread (Pug. 60).
”contemplation of not-self” is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassana^). See also above.
s. vimokkha.
s. vuttha^na-ga^mini^-vipassana^.
”continuity of subconsciousness”; s. santa^na
”mental bondages”, are 5 things which hinder the mind from making right exertion, namely: lust for sensuous objects, for the body, for visible things, for eating and sleeping, and leading the monk”s life for the sake of heavenly rebirth. For details, s. A.V, 205; X, 14; D. 33; M. 16. Cf. foll.
”one-pointedness of mind”, is a synonym of concentration, or sama^dhi (q.v.)
upagha^taka-kamma; s. karma.
(regarding the whole world): s. sabbaloke anabhirati-san~n~a^.
”perversion of views”; s. vipalla^sa.
Five Commandments == 五戒
see Five Precepts.
Foremost Paramita == 第一波羅蜜
It refers to the perfect principle of Middle Way. It is neither birth nor death, without dwelling in Nirvana. It is the substance of everything beyond words and conceptual thinking.
Four Noble Truths == 四聖谛
It is the primary and fundamental doctrines of Shakyamuni
1.Doctrine of Suffering - suffering is a necessary attribute of sentient existence (Effect of Suffering)
2.Doctrine of Accumulation - accumulation of suffering is caused by passions (Cause of Suffering)
3.Doctrine of Extinction - extinction of passion (Effect of Happiness)
4.Doctrine of Path - Path leading to the extinction of passion (Cause of Happiness); i.e. Eightfold Path.
The first two are considered to be related to this life, and the last two to the life outside and beyond this world.
The Four Noble Truths were first preached to Shakyamuni”s five former ascetic companions.
s. an~n~a^.
arúpa^vacara: cf. avacara, jha^na (5-8); Tab. I.
s. karma.