A Manual of Abhidhamma

by Nārada Thera | 80,494 words | ISBN-13: 9789380336510

In the Abhidhammattha Sangaha there is a brief exposition of the Law of Dependent Origination, followed by a descriptive account of the Causal Relations that finds no parallel in any other philosophy. Edited in the original Pali Text with English Translation and Explanatory Notes by Narada Maha Thera....

Emancipation

Vimokkhabhedo

§ 7.

Tattha anattānupassanāattābhinivesam muñcanti. Suññatānupassanā nāma vimokkhamukham hoti. Aniccānupassanā vipallāsanimittam muñcanti, animittānupassanā nāma. Dukkhānupassana tanhāpanidhim muñcanti, appanihitānupassanā nāma. Tasmā yadi vuttthānagāminīvipassanā anattato vipassati, suññato vimokkho nāma hoti maggo.Yadi aniccato vipassati, animitto vimokkho nāma. Yadi dukkhato vipassati appanihito vimokkho nāmā'ti ca maggo vipassanāgamanavasena tīni nāmāni labbhati. Tathā phalañca maggāgamana-vasena maggavīthiyam. Phalasamāpattivīthiyam pana yathāvuttanayena vipassantānam yathāsakam phalamuppajjamānam pi vipassanāgamanavasen' evasuññatādivimokkho' ticapavuccati. ālambanavasena pana sarasavasena ca nāmattayam sabbattha sabbesampi samameva.

Ayam ettha vimokkhabhedo.

 

(translation)

§ 7.

Therein, the contemplation of no-soul, that discards the clinging to a soul (49), becomes an avenue of Emancipation and is termed 'Void-contemplation'. The contemplation of impermanence, that discards the signs of false notion (50), becomes an avenue of Emancipation, and is termed 'Signless-contemplation. The contemplation of suffering, that discards the hankering of attachment (51), becomes an avenue of Emancipation and is termed 'Unhankering-contemplation' .

Hence if with the Emergence Insight leading to the Path, one contemplates on no-soul, then the Path is known as 'Void-Emancipation'; if one contemplates on impermanence then the Path is known as 'Signless-Emancipation; if one contemplates on sorrow, then the Path is known as 'Unhankering-Emancipation. Thus the Path receives three names according to the way of Insight. Likewise, the Fruit, (occurring) in the Path thought-process, receives these three names according to the way of the Path.

However, in the thought-process as regards the attainment to fruition, to those who contemplate in the foregoing manner, the Fruits that arise respectively in each case, are termed 'Void-Emancipation', etc., only in accordance with the way of Insight. But, as regards objects and respective functions, the triad of names is applied equally to all (Paths and Fruits) everywhere.

Herein this is the section on Emancipation.

 

Notes:

 

49. Attābhinivesa - The stronghold of a soul like the doer of action, the reaper of fruit, 'this is my soul'.

50. Vipallāsanimittam - Three vipallāsas or misconceptions are discarded by meditating on 'impermanence'. They are 'erroneous perception' (saññā-vipallāsa), 'erroneous ideas' (citta-vipallāsa), and 'erroneous views' (ditthi-vipallāsa). On account of these three misconceptions people regard what is impermanent as permanent.

51. Tanhāpanidhi - Such hankerings like 'this is mine', 'this is happiness'.

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