The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw | 1990 | 1,044,401 words
This page describes how firm Opinion arises due to Illusory Concepts contained within the book called the Great Chronicle of Buddhas (maha-buddha-vamsa), a large compilation of stories revolving around the Buddhas and Buddhist disciples. This page is part of the series known as how the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta came to be Taught. This great chronicle of Buddhas was compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw who had a thorough understanding of the thousands and thousands of Buddhist teachings (suttas).
Sakka’s Question (5): On how firm Opinion arises due to Illusory Concepts
Having learnt with great satisfaction the Buddha’s answers, Sakka put another question thus:
“Venerable Sir, what is the cause of vinicchaya-vitakka? What is its origin? What is its genesis? What is its source? When what factor is present, does vinicchaya-vitakka take place? When, what factor is not present, does vinicchaya-vitakka not take place?”
And the Buddha replied:
“Sakka King of Devas, vinicchaya-vitakka has illusory perceptions (saññā) associated with papañca-dhamma, which tends to prolong the saṃsāra, as their cause, as their origin, as their genesis, as their source. When there are illusory perceptions, vinicchaya-vitakka takes place. When there are no illusory perceptions, vinicchaya-vitakka does not take place.”[1]
(Herein, there are three kinds of illusion that tend to diffuse the mind, they are, craving (taṇhā), conceit (māna) and wrong view (diṭṭhi). They are called the diffusing factors (papanñca-dhamma), because they tend to prolong the round of rebirth, and one, who is under their spell, is called as “one who is attached to the world, who is egoistic, who is deluded.” In other words, these three factors are hindrances that make one conceited and forgetful. In our present context, the illusion of craving is meant. There are six kinds or categories of illusory perception (saññā), according to six sense objects, viz., perceptions about visible objects (rūpa-saññā), perceptions about sounds (sadda-saññā), perceptions about odours (gandha-saññā), etc. Vinicchaya-vitakka is developed based on those illusory perceptions.)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
108 kinds of craving: Basically there are 3 types of craving: Craving for sense pleasure, craving for becoming, craving for non-becoming. Alternatively, craving for sense pleasure, craviug for form, craving for the formless--(for details, see Book of Analysis by Ashin Seṭṭhila-- P.T.S publication). As each type of craving arises with respect to six objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, mind, it expands to 18 types. Again as each of them is concerned with 3 moments of past, present and future, it becomes 18 x 3 = 54 in member, which, when considered for both internal and external aspect, multiples to 108.