Section outline
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Lesson 1.4.0 Cūḷahatthipadopamasuttaṃ, Part One – Saddhā, Confidence, Is the Necessary Base for Walking the Path
Saddhā (confidence, devotion or faith) is the essential element and base for anyone to become attracted, interested and inspired to take more steps along the way. When saddhā progresses from devotional faith or intellectual confidence into what the meditation teacher S. N. Goenka calls ‘enlightened devotion’ then it creates the perfect foundation for every further step on the path, and matures as insight develops. This subchapter 1.4 therefore aims at providing suttas that portray examples of those who have grown in Dhamma and whose conduct and achievements provide inspiring encouragement. This lesson 1.4.0 Cūḷahatthipadopamasutta, translated as the ‘Shorter Simile of an Elephant’s Footprint’, has been chosen for the purpose of fostering saddhā. It originates as an exchange between the Brāhmiṇ Jāṇussoṇi and the wanderer Pilotika, after which the Brāhmiṇ Jāṇussoṇi visits the Buddha. Here the Buddha delivers the important advice not to draw false suppositions by just seeing a ‘footprint’ but to base one’s judgement only on direct experience rather than pure faith or analytical deduction. The Buddha then proceeds by describing the proper conduct and inspiring deportment of the members of the Saṅgha as presented in the current lesson.