Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)

by U Lu Pe Win | 216,848 words

This is the English translation of the commentary on the Apadana (Atthakatha), also known as the Visuddhajana-Vilasini. The Buddhist stories known as apadanas refer to biographies of Buddhas, Buddhist monks and nuns. They are found in the Pali Canon (Khuddaka Nikaya), which is the primary canon of Theravada Buddhism. Alternative titles: Visuddhaja...

Commentary on the stanza on pañcāvaraṇāni (five kinds of hindrances)

122. What is the origin of the stanza, starting with: pahāya pañcāvaraṇāni? it is said that in Benares, there was a certain king who had gained the first successful stage of meditation, (jhāna). In order to duly preserve his jhāna, that king abdicated his sovereignty, became a monk, developed spiritual insight, attained silent buddhahood, and recited this stanza of joyous utterance illuminating his own practice towards achievement.

122.1. pañcāvaraṇāni, there, is but five kinds of hindrances. They are stated significantly in the Uraga Sutta. Since they, however, hinder the mind just as clouds and so on hide the moon and sun they are, therefore, said to be mental hindrances; pahāya, having forsaken and abandoned them either by access jhāna, (upacāra), or full fixation of thought, (appanā); thus, is the meaning. Upakkilese means bad deeds which approach the mind to make it suffer various ailments;vatthopamādisu, the said covetousness and so on, otherwise. Byapanujja is having uprooted; having forsaken by means of the right path of clear spiritual insight; thus, is the meaning. Sabbe is without any remainder. Anissito is because of having forsaken the dependence on heresy by means of the first stage of the right path to nibbāna, being thus endowed with mental tranquillity (samatha), and spiritual insight (vipassanā). Having cut off by the remaining stages of the right path to nibbāna those elementary sinehadosam, faults of affection; the lustful craving; thus, is the statement. The self-same affection, indeed, is spoken of as the fault of affection as the opposite of virtuous quality. The rest is in the manner as aforesaid.

The Commentary on the stanza, starting with āvaraṇa, has ended.

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