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Lesson 3.3.8 Dvedhāvitakkasuttaṃ, Part One – Reducing Wrong Thoughts and Strengthening Right Thoughts
When the Buddha taught his son, Rahula, to reflect on any action, speech or thought he was about to engage in, he expounded exactly what he, as Bodhisatta, had done himself. Before his enlightenment the Bodhisatta had determined to subdivide his notions into two categories: In one group he placed all those thoughts of a character that could be assigned to ‘this shore’ (micchāsaṅkappo orimaṃ tīraṃ). The second group, describing someone who is about to reach ‘the other shore’ (sammākammanto pārimaṃ tīraṃ), he assigned those of the opposite character. That the Buddha taught, not only to his son but to all beings, what he experienced and achieved himself is what categorises all Buddha’s as Tathāgata. Tathāgatas expounds what they practise and they practise what they teach. Their speech is truthful and reflected in their physical actions and their physical actions are in accordance with what they proclaim.